MEN'S SOCCER FALLS ONE GOAL SHORT AS FIREBIRDS SECURE WIN ON PENALTY KICK, 2-1

11/2/2024 8:00:00 PM

Box Score Washington, DC - The College of Staten Island Men's Soccer Team faced the University of the District of Columbia today with a spot in the East Coast Conference playoffs on the line in the team's final game of the regular season. After falling behind 1-0, the Dolphins got even on a Miguel Espinosa goal in the first half. However, the tie was broken for good when a Firebirds penalty kick put UDC ahead in the final minutes before halftime. Neither team would score the rest of the way as the Firebirds clinched a spot in the ECC Tournament with a 2-1 victory. The Dolphins finish the season 2-12-1 and the Firebirds finish the season 5-7-4.

The Firebirds opened the scoring in the fourteenth minute when Gordillo Martinez found the back of the net to give UDC an early 1-0. Just over ten minutes later, the Dolphins would get even as Miguel Espinosa scored his team-leading seventh goal of the season to get the Dolphins even, 1-1. The Firebirds would go on to control possession for the final twenty minutes of the first half culminating with a penalty kick in the final two minutes before the break. With a chance to give his team the lead, Isaiah Daniel beat Justin Karaburan on the PK to make it 2-1. The penalty kick goal was part of a stretch that saw the Firebirds attempt nine of eleven shots to end the half, and UDC went into the break in front by a goal.

After registering seven shots in the first half, the Dolphins were limited to just three shots the rest of the way. Meanwhile, UDC attempted another eleven shots in the final 45 minutes to give them 27 for the match. Of the 37 shots between the two teams in the match, just nine were put on goal, only four of those coming after halftime. None of those shots on target following the break belonged to the Dolphins, and CSI would go on to fall one goal short in their 2024 regular season finale, 2-1.

Having needed a win to have a chance to qualify for the playoffs, the Dolphins were eliminated from playoff contention with the loss. Had the Dolphins won, they would have made the postseason thanks to a Mercy victory of St. Thomas Aquinas. The Firebirds do reach the postseason with the win and improve to 2-0-2 against the Dolphins in four meetings.

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