Newark, NJ | Despite outplaying the Scarlet Raiders for several stretches of the game tonight, the College of Staten Island men's soccer team dropped the nightcap with Rutgers-Newark, 2-1 in extra time. Staten Island's four-game win streak came to an end and as a result, as the Dolphins dropped to 6-3 on the year while the Scarlet Raiders improved to 6-3-1.
The Scarlet Raiders were quick to find themselves on the scoreboard on their home field tonight, netting the opening goal just six minutes into the game. Ariel Parada found himself on the end of a long ball from Bryan Rodriguez inside Staten Island's box. Parada was able to square up and convert on a tough angle to give his team the lead.
Philip Lefkowitz found himself in open space tonight and was not shy when pulling the trigger. Lefkowitz led the Dolphins in shots and continued to test RU keeper Christian Andrach. After halftime,
Macki Dougoune nearly leveled the game when he watched his shot bounce off of the crossbar. Andrach continued to be pressured by the Dolphins and would come up with a pair of big saves that came off of the foot of Dougoune and Lefkowitz.
Staten Island finally broke through in the 70th minute when
Carlos Montesinos and
Joe Bolella were able to team up. Montesinos tapped the ball to Bolella, who was able to break free after a couple of nifty moves. Bolella was able to slot the ball underneath Andrach in the bottom left corner to knot the game up at one for his eighth goal of the season.
Rutgers-Newark had a chance to take the lead in the 87th minute but CSI keeper
Christian Carucci was able to make the save with ease to keep his team in the game. With that being the final good chance of the game the teams headed into extra time with the Dolphins holding the offensive edge over the Raiders.
Miguel Morales made a huge stop in the 98th-minute one-on-one with a Scarlet Raider to prevent a goal scoring opportunity. Neither team was able to generate a solid goal scoring opportunity in the first extra time as the ball continued to flip-flop in the center of the pitch.
The game would finally turn with just over six minutes to play in the second overtime. After a lengthy pause in a game following a RU set piece, the Scarlet-Raiders were awarded a penalty kick after Carucci was issued a straight red card and were able to convert the kick from the spot by Franco Catania to survive, 2-1.
After a messy finish, Catania was also red-carded following the goal. CSI led the final shot count, 20-10 (7-5 on goal), but committed 16 fouls to just six by the Raiders.
The Dolphins return to action on Wednesday, September 26 where they will take on Medgar Evers College in a CUNYAC matchup at 4:00 pm in Brooklyn, NY.
