A potent offensive display by FDU-Florham was the difference, as they surged past the College of Staten Island in women’s soccer this evening by a 5-3 count at the Robert T. Shields Field in Madison, NJ, as part of non-conference play between the two sides. The win broke a two-game skid for the Devils who advanced to 7-4 overall, while the Dolphins fell to 7-4-1 with the loss.
Five of the game’s eight goals would be scored in the opening stanza, a 45 minutes that saw 17 shots in total. Although FDU would take a lead into intermission, it was the Dolphins that opened the scoring just over two minutes into the game. Fresh off of her CUNYAC Rookie of the Week citation Daniela Zirpolo found an open Nicole Mignone, who raced in one-on-one against FDU keeper Ashley Paulino. Mignone tucked a shot into the low corner to stake CSI to the 1-0 lead, her second marker of the season, and her first in 10 games.
The lead, however, was short lived. Just 1:45 later, and less than five minutes elapsed in total, FDU’s Madeline Finnegan scored for the fourth time this year, collecting a pass, beating a lone defender and punching a shot to the low-left of goal passed CSI keeper Kaila DiBenedetto.
After trading shots, FDU slowly started to dictate play, and less than 10 minutes after their first goal, the Devils took their first lead of the game. This time, Amanda Croce found an open Nathalia Gallo who unleashed a 25-yard rocket towards goal, hitting twine. After play settled and a wave of substitutions entered, it was CSI’s turn to spar, and with just over 22 minutes gone by, it was Mignone who would register again. This time, in a scramble in front of goal, Mignone was able to wrestle the ball away from the defense at close range and punched one in top-shelf to knot the score at 2-2.
Again FDU came alive offensively, and the Devils would get off the half’s last six shots. The clincher would come with under five minutes to go in the frame. This time Tatiana Nieto found Gallo from 10 yards out, and she would chip it over DiBenedetto’s head to grab another lead, this time 3-2, a lead it would take into halftime, complete with a 12-5 edge in shots to that point.
It didn’t take long for FDU to make it a comfortable lead. Against reserve keeper Maraya Jones, the Devils tallied again in the 56th minute after the team traded shots to intro the half. Erica Martins did the honors, doubling up CSI by a 4-2 count. From there, FDU closed defensively and it was hard for CSI to manufacture chances. The Dolphins would tally just a single shot over the next 10 minutes, they started unleashing more, but only would would be placed on goal, an Adrianna Parello shot in the 73rd minute that was parried by Paulino.
But CSI refused to give in, and putting constant pressure, it was junior Lauren Smith who would make things interesting in the 75th minute. Smith was given a feeder by Rebecca D’Aloia and popped in the tally to make it 4-3 with less than 15 minutes on the clock, her second goal of the year. Down one, CSI was forced to press, but despite heavy numbers they could not register. Then, with less than three minutes to play, FDU added all the insurance they would need thanks to a near 40-yard free kick goal by Gallo, completing her hat trick to finalize the scoring at 5-3.
FDU finished with a 17-13 edge in total shots (10-7 on goal). CSI finished with a 4-2 edge in corners. Jones made one second half save while Finnegan recorded the win with a four-save effort.
The win by FDU made them 7-0 against CSI all-time.
The Dolphins will next be in action on Saturday, when they get back to CUNYAC play by hosting Medgar Evers College at the CSI Soccer Complex at 12 Noon.
