The College of Staten Island men’s soccer team saw their season-opening losing skid hit five games, as the visiting Dolphins fell to New Jersey City University, 9-0, in a non-conference tournament game played in Jersey City. Part of the annual Liberty Cup, the event is hosted by NJCU. The Gothic Knights improved to 4-1-1 on the season while CSI falls to 0-5.
Four of NJCU’s goals came in the first half, with the scoring breaking open at the 15:09 mark on an unassisted goal by Jefferson Hurtago, a 20-yard strike passed CSI keeper Andrew Brown. The scores stayed 1-0 for the next 15+ minutes, but then the Knights erupted for three goals spanning the next 7:48 to rest comfortably going into the intermission.
The first two of those goals were scored by Walter Avans, his eighth and 9th of the season. Awal Ahmed then scored goal number four at the 40:22 mark, a 16-yard free kick.
Despite the 4-0 lead, CSI keeper Brown was sensational minding the posts, saving 11 first half shots, as the Knights outshot the Dolphins 29-1 in the first half (15-0 on goal).
The Knights hardly relented in the second frame, scoring another five markers, including three in the final 15 minutes. Ahmen added the first of the five, the Gabriel Avans netted his own at 61:02. Manny Addu scored two of NJCU’s final three tallied, sandwiching a goal by Giovanni Ricciardi. Jilmar Perez assisted on NJCU’s final two scores.
NJCU enjoyed a hefty 45-3 edge in shots. Brown finished with 14 saves, a season-high.
The Dolphins will turn around and face FDU-Florham tomorrow afternoon at 12pm.