Staten Island, NY | The College of Staten Island found themselves locked in a hard-fought, physical match against #14 ranked Ramapo College at the CSI Soccer Complex this afternoon and came away with a 1-1 draw. The Dolphins struck first just over 15 minutes into the game after Joe Bolella played the ball across the box from left to right finding Bryant Navarro who then fired a shot back the other way and tucked it inside of the left post. CSI would maintain that 1-0 lead for the next 60 minutes, but with just under 15 minutes to play it was a Ramapo set-piece that got them even as Ariton Mimini lightly tapped a free-kick over to Nick Petrozziello who immediately attempted a shot that contacted at least one Dolphins defender before finding its way inside of the far post. The score would stay knotted up at 1 for the remainder of the second half and through a pair of ten-minute overtime periods bringing the game to an end in a 1-1 draw.
The Dolphins came out of the gate strong and would ultimately be rewarded for the pressure they put on Ramapo early after Bolella found Navarro for the first goal of the game. Ramapo would also have their chances early on as well, but Jake Foeldes was up to the challenge and kept the Roadrunners off of the scoreboard through the end of the first half. When the first half came to a close, Ramapo led CSI in shots 5-4, but come the second half, Foeldes would be tested even further.
After maintaining consistent pressure on the attack throughout the first half, the Dolphins failed to register a shot in the second half. Ramapo took full advantage of their increased time of possession and went on to record 9 shots in half number two while also earning five corner kicks to go along with them. However, Foeldes was able to keep the Roadrunners from breaking into the goal column for the first 75 minutes.
This changed on a free kick awarded to the left of the penalty area which set up Ramapo to score their lone goal of the game. Initially, it was Ariton Mimini standing over the ball, but he quickly tapped the ball over to Nick Petrozziello standing directly to his left. Petrozziello then fired the ball across the penalty area where it struck at least one, possibly two, Dolphins defenders before finding its way inside of the far post. This knotted up the game at 1-1 which is where the score would remain through the end of regulation.
Neither team was able to register a single shot in the first overtime period with the best scoring opportunity coming on a Dolphins corner kick. After an uneventful first overtime, the second overtime saw a pair of yellow cards issued, one against each team. Ramapo also registered a pair of shots while the Dolphins attempted their first shot since the first half. Despite a slight uptick in scoring chances during the second extra frame, neither team was able to come through with the golden goal necessary to win the match and the game came to an end tied 1-1.
With this game going down as an exhibition for CSI, the Dolphins face a tough test to open the regular season as they travel to Camden, NJ to participate in the Cialella Soccer Classic where they will first take on Rowan University on 9/7 before a meeting with Rutgers Camden on 9/8.
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