DOLPHIN MEN ADVANCE TO CUNYAC SEMIS WITH SHUTOUT OVER JOHN JAY

Box Score The College of Staten Island men's soccer team advanced to the CUNYAC Postseason Semifinals for the first time since 2007 this afternoon, via a very impressive, 3-0, win over John Jay College in the opening round of the tourney played at Aviator Field in Brooklyn. The fifth-seeded Dolphins improved to 11-9 overall, while No. 4 John Jay fell to 6-10-3 to close out the season.

The opening frame of the game saw a struggle for both teams to generate quality scoring chances. This was a stark contrast to the regular season meeting between the two sides, when the teams combined for five goals. This time shots were at a premium, and the game seemed destined for a scoreless tie at halftime before the Dolphins scored a critical goal with just 1:23 remaining in the stanza. The play started when freshman Betsam Sosa led a springing Alfonso Castaneda on a through-ball in the middle of the field. Castaneda looked to feed a pass in the middle of the goal box to Michele Kissi, but instead the ball was deflected right back on to the foot of Castaneda, who buried a shot into the low corner passed JJC keeper Vitecha Kochaon to stake CSI to the 1-0 lead that held up to the half.

The goal gave CSI a huge momentum lift going into the second half, and it showed. After JJC tried to get a rush up the field to start the second frame, CSI defender Christian Chirinos cleared a ball out of his own defensive end right up the field. In the right place at the right time, the ball was scooped up at midfield by freshman Ryan Miller, who then faked to his right to beat a defender and race in for a breakaway. Calm and cool, Miller slipped in his shot past Kochaon to make it 2-0 just 2:06 into the second half.

The Bloodhounds, which generated more shots than any other CUNYAC team this season and finished second in goals, were having a very tough time generating chances despite constant pressing. While the back line of Chirinos and Giovanni Cortes were holding steady, CSI keeper Ahmed El-Ghareib made several interceptions of would-be crosses, as JJC finished the game with only six shots, three on goal.

With JJC pressing to get back into the game, CSI put the nail in the coffin when Miller tallied again, this time stuffing in a Daniel Tsygankov pass to make it 3-0 with only 1:05 remaining in the game. CSI finished with a 15-6 shot advantage (9-3 on goal), frustrating the Bloodhounds at every turn. Despite the jubilation of win, CSI did see a significant injury to CUNYAC and team leading scorer Nedgy Nazon, who was forced to leave the game early on in the second half.

Via the win CSI will next meet top-seeded Baruch College, who won their semifinal over No. 8 York College, 3-1. The game will be played at 5pm at Randall's Island. In other semifinal action, No. 2 Brooklyn College defeated No. 7 Hunter College, 2-0, while No. 3 CCNY used penalty kicks to defeat No. 6 Lehman College after a 1-1 tie. Brooklyn will play CCNY at 7pm on Saturday, also at Randall's Island.

Print Friendly Version

Players Mentioned

#12 Nedgy Nazon: F; 5' 8"; Junior

#16 Ryan Miller: D; 5' 9"; Junior

#17 Michele Kissi: F; 5' 7"; Sophomore

#5 Betsam Sosa: MF; 5' 5"; Freshman

#22 Daniel Tsygankov: F; 5' 8"; Freshman

#11 Alfonso Castaneda: F; 5' 8"; Sophomore

#2 Christian Chirinos: D/MF; 5' 9"; Sophomore

#7 Ahmed El-Ghareib: GK; 6' 0"; Senior

Players Mentioned

#12 Nedgy Nazon
: 5' 8"; Junior
: F

#16 Ryan Miller
: 5' 9"; Junior
: D

#17 Michele Kissi
: 5' 7"; Sophomore
: F

#5 Betsam Sosa
: 5' 5"; Freshman
: MF

#22 Daniel Tsygankov
: 5' 8"; Freshman
: F

#11 Alfonso Castaneda
: 5' 8"; Sophomore
: F

#2 Christian Chirinos
: 5' 9"; Sophomore
: D/MF

#7 Ahmed El-Ghareib
: 6' 0"; Senior
: GK