The College of Staten Island men’s soccer season is officially up and running, and begins today with a date at home against Ramapo College. Newly accepted as an NCAA Division II member, CSI’s competitive season in the NCAA does not begin until next week, and so today’s game will be counted as an exempted exhibition for CSI against a non-Division II school. There is plenty of excitement on hand as CSI prepares to build off of a magical season in 2018 that saw them win a program-best 15 games.
CSI VS. RAMAPO COLLEGE AT-A-GLANCE
Matchup: CSI (0-0) vs. Ramapo (0-0)
Where: CSI Soccer Complex – 2800 Victory Boulevard, Staten Island, NY
Ticket Info: Free Admission
Gameday Promotion: Free CSI Mini Soccer Ball to first 100 fans in attendance
Live Stats: https://csidolphins.com/sidearmstats/msoc/summary
Live Video: http://www.csidolphins.com/CSISportsNet
All-Time Series: CSI leads, 5-2-1
Last Meeting: November 12, 2016 – CSI won, 1-0
Players to Watch (CSI): One of the most potent offenses in the NCAA last season, the Dolphins are returning their top five scorers from a year ago, including 20-goal scorer Bryant Navarro, who led the team with four game-winners. Senior Philip Lefkowitz needs just one more assist to tie the CSI all-time record in that category. He finished with 16 helpers last season and No. 1 in the nation in assists per game with 0.89. Joe Bolella poured in a career-best 14 goals a season ago while Breny Salas tallied seven times and Carlos Montesinos six. Look for seniors Ryan Layman and Erick Conde, along with junior Wilson Quintero to control the back line for the Dolphins, while sophomore keeper Christian Carucci will try to build on an impressive freshman campaign between the pipes, where he amassed an 11-3-1 record last year.
Players to Watch (RC): All-American Joe Fala torched the NCAA last year offensively and is hoping to pick up right where he left off against the Dolphins today. Fala finished with 27 goals in 23 games. Justin Charkowski will be patrolling a very stingy defense, looking to temper the Dolphins’ attack and keep the shot totals low. Josh Schaffer will undoubtedly be between the pipes where he was exceptional last year. Schaffer started all 23 Ramapo games last year, amassing a 17-4-2 record with a .808 save percentage and a 1.06 goals-against average.
News & Notes: Today’s game will be a showdown between two conference powers. The Dolphins will not figure into the CUNYAC standings this year due to their provisional affiliation with the East Coast Conference, but they finished undefeated in the CUNYAC last year. Meanwhile, Ramapo was selected to finish second in the New Jersey Athletic Conference’s Preseason Poll, a huge honor considering the normally competitive conference’s penchant for turning out nationally-relevant programs. These two teams haven’t met since the 2016 season, when they clashed in Mahway, NJ, in the ECAC Postseason Tournament. Despite an even game, CSI prevailed, 1-0, on an early penalty-kick goal. Before that game, the teams hadn’t met since the 2003 season, a 1-0 Ramapo win. Today’s matchup is the first played between the two sides on Staten Island since September 8, 1996, a scoreless tie. Ramapo will be looking for their first-ever win in Staten Island today. The Dolphins are 2-0-1 all-time at home against the Roadrunners.
What’s Next?: After today’s game CSI will be idle until next weekend when they participate in the Cialella Soccer Classic played at Rutgers-Camden. CSI will take on Rowan University on Saturday, September 7, at 4:30 pm, followed by a clash against Rutgers-Camden on Sunday, September 8, at 2 pm. As for Ramapo, they will next be in action on Wednesday, September 4, opening up the home portion of their schedule against the United States Merchant Marine Academy, at 4 pm.
