Jersey City, NJ | The Dolphins ended their regular season with a quality non-conference win over Bayonne Bridge rivals, New Jersey City University. The Dolphins defeated the Gothic Knights, 6-0, lead by a Bryant Navarro brace. CSI improved their win streak to two in a row to bump their record up to 14-4 overall while knocking the Gothic Knights down to 6-10.
The Dolphins got off to a great start in the contest as they took a 1-0 lead just 1:14 minutes into the game. An own goal would give them the lead putting the home team in an early hole. The Gothic Knights wouldn’t go quietly as Joe Burgos nearly tied it up but saw his shot bounce off of the crossbar. Oscar Torres was called upon late in the first half to preserve the shutout and was able to do just that.
Navarro would strike in the 40th minute after he was able to corral his own rebound and knock it home for his 16th of the season. The Dolphins were all over the Gothic Knights in the first half, firing off 15 shots while holding NJCU to just six.
Staten Island increased the pressure in the second half, tallying four more goals. Eight minutes out of halftime and the Dolphins’ leading goal scorer, Navarro, struck again. A deflection allowed Navarro to break free and convert an easy one-on-one breakaway against Aldahir Cazun for his second of the game. Philip Lefkowitz continued to test Cazun in net and was finally able to convert in the 58th minute. After Burgos committed a foul, Lefkowitz stood over the ball and curled one to the back post which squeezed in for the games fourth goal.
The Gothic Knights defense struggled with one of the most potent offenses in the country all afternoon with a majority of the goals coming in the second half. Jhair Larrea was able to get in on the scoring spree, taking a pass from Breny Salas inside the box and placing it into the back of the net. The Dolphins continued to pick apart the Gothic Knights despite holding a large lead which led to Nick Aletto netting his first goal of the season.
Chris Li picked out Aletto in the box where he was able to hit it far post for the games final goal. The Dolphins looked good all afternoon, stringing passes together to tire out their opposition.
CSI put together a quality outing in their final tune-up before the CUNYAC Tournament and they hope they’re able to carry this momentum into the tournament to give Head Coach John Tardy his first CUNYAC title.