Men's Soccer 10/29/2016 11:47:34 PM

Lightning and Hawks Victorious in Semis; Set to Face-off in Men’s Soccer Final

CUNYAC Soccer Presented by Brine

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The 2016 CUNYAC/Brine Men’s Soccer Semifinals took place on Saturday, October 29th at Brooklyn College. The matchups featured the #1 Lehman Lightning and the #3 CSI Dolphins, and the day’s second game was the #2 Hunter Hawks versus #6 Baruch Bearcats. The regular season champion Lehman Lightning advanced to the championship game after a 1-0 win over CSI. The Hawks took care of business in their matchup with the Bearcats from Baruch after winning 2-1. The 2016 Finals are set for November 5th, at 4:30 PM at Brooklyn College.

Recaps in Seed Order

#1 Lehman Lightning 1, #3 CSI Dolphins 0 - Box Score

Courtesy of Lehman College Sports Information

Essosa Aluyi netted the game's lone goal in the 27th minute as the Lehman College men's soccer team advanced to the CUNYAC Finals with a 1-0 semifinal victory over #4 College of Staten Island Saturday afternoon at Brooklyn College Field.

The top-seeded Lightning (9-3-3, 6-0-2 CUNYAC) extends their season-best win streak to six games. They move on to their third conference championship having appeared in 2010 against Hunter and 2011 versus Baruch, and are seeking the school's second CUNYAC title (2011) in program history where they topped Baruch in penalty kicks.

The goal was Aluyi's eight goal of the season, leading the team. Ramone Rowe made the game's only assist, a great pass on the Aluyi goal from a cross into the box at 26:47. Goalkeeper Irvin Barreto made three saves on the day on 17 shots total for a shutout win. The Lightning defense remained strong despite 17 corner kicks from the Dolphins, including eight in the second half.

Lehman will face #6 Hunter College next Saturday in the CUNYAC Finals at the Brooklyn College Field. Start time is scheduled for 4:30 p.m

Courtesy of CSI Dolphins Sports Information

For the second time this season, the College of Staten Island men's soccer team fell to Lehman College, 1-0, only this time the loss was much more painful, as it ends the Dolphins' quest for a CUNYAC title at the semifinal stage. The top-seeded Lightning (9-3-3) will move on to the CUNYAC Championship next weekend, awaiting the winner of No. 2 Hunter and No. 6 Baruch, while the Dolphins' season is stalled with a record of 11-7-2 overall.

In the regular season contest, Lehman was out-shot in the contest, 14-7, but in the 61st minute, Essosa Aluyi was able to register the game-winner. This time, Lehman tallied in the 26th minute and never looked back, despite being out-shot by CSI, 17-6. For the Dolphins the story was not being able to find the target, as only three of their 17 shots were on goal, a percentage of just 18%.

CSI's best chance may have come early, when at 2:16, Mike Arellanes almost changed the game by getting a shot past Irvin Barreto of Lehman only for it to hit off of the crossbar. CSI continued to win balls and mount possession, but a series of shots did could not find the twine. CSI forward Dardan Nika powered three towards net, but one was blocked, another saved by Barreto and a third sailed high of target.

That led into the midway mark of the first stanza. On just their second attempt at goal of the game, Ramone Rowe bent a gorgeous cross into the box that Aluyi punched in via the header past CSI keeper Jake Foeldes, his eighth tally of the season. From there, Lehman had the momentum and now with a lead, they held a tight back line and CSI was able to get off just one shot, a header high of goal by Ruben Diaz in the 36th minute.

Knowing it had to put out all the stops to score, CSI was seemingly anxious in the second half and it showed, and they constantly pressed for an equalizer. Five minutes into the frame, however, Barreto was up to the task of saving a Matthew Bessler header, and in the 61st minute, Barreto turned aside a Ryan Layman shot.

CSI would not get a shot on target the rest of the way. They did have their chances. In the 75th minute, Vasyl Fedortsi sent a screaming shot wide of net and the Dolphins just could not get a decent attempt off of eight corner kicks in the second half, squandering a host of opportunities from in close.

After a final flurry, the clock expired, clinching Lehman's trip to the final and their third over CSI all-time in the CUNYAC Tournament. In addition to the shot count, CSI led the final corner kick count by a huge, 17-1, margin.

For now, the Dolphins' season is over, but they are eligible for the ECAC Metro Championship Tournament if they are selected.

#2 Hunter Hawks 2, #6 Baruch Bearcats 1 - Box Score

The day’s second game of the 2016 CUNYAC/Brine Men’s Soccer Semifinals featured two CUNYAC rivals, the Baruch Bearcats and the Hunter Hawks. The Hawks won the sole regular season matchup and would claim this game as well, 2-1 on a crisp fall night at Brooklyn College..

The Hawks wasted no time, in the first minute of play, Hunter’s Jesus Patino Muniz streaked down the field from his left wing position and caught the Baruch out of position. Muniz would then put in a cross that fell perfectly for teammate Aristofanis Ioannidis to finish with conviction. Hunter took an early 1-0 lead and took control of momentum right out of the gate.

The Bearcats did not let the early goal get them down as they too would then find the back of the net and answer shortly thereafter. In the game’s third minute of action, Baruch was awarded their first corner kick of the game. Jaime Zurro took the honors and sent a low cross into the box where the forehead of Dortion Alipaj was there to meet the ball and tie things up at 1 very early on.

For the remainder of the first half, the #6 seeded Bearcats continued to surprise and produced the majority of scoring options. Their team build up style of play helped keep Hunter’s counter attacking style under control. Back to back chances by Baruch’s Oshae Miller looked to give the underdog Bearcats a continued confidence in their attack.

Hunter would finally find daylight in the form of midfielder Itamar Pereira and teammate Jacob Gorodetsky. Pereira would dribble the ball towards the box on the right hash mark and execute a flawless tiki taka play with Gorodetsky who returned the ball to Pereira in stride. Pereira would take a touch and blast the ball over the left shoulder of Bearcat keeper, Xavier Carrillo. The Hawks took a 2-1 lead at the 30 minute mark and wouldn’t need another goal for the rest of the contest.

The second half was goalless but it was certainly still an attack filled period. The Bearcats continued to build up the attack play only to be stopped by the stout Hunter defense. The Bearcats actually outshot the Hawks six to three in the second half and looked like they would tie it up at any moment to keep their surprising tournament run alive. The Bearcats last great chance came on a direct free kick about 20 yards outside of the box, Oshae Miller took the shot on goal but the big defenders from Hunter who stood on the wall allowed it to go nowhere as they blocked it. After a tiring chance after chance, the final whistle sounded, and the Hawks celebrated their first CUNYAC Finals berth since the 2010 edition.

The #2 seeded Hawks will go on to face the #1 seeded Lightning from Lehman College in the finals of the CUNYAC/Brine Men’s Soccer Championship. The game is scheduled for November 5th at 4:30 PM, once again at the field of Brooklyn College.