Men's Soccer Takes on Dowling on Long Island at 7 p.m. Tonight
Box Score DOBBS FERRY, N.Y. (Oct. 2, 2013) – The Mercy College men's soccer team will take on East Coast Conference foe Dowling College tonight in Brookhaven, N.Y.
Mercy was ranked No. 5 in the latest National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA)/Continental Tire Division II Men's Poll.
Mercy dominated last year's matchup to the tune of a 5-1 victory as then-sophomore Danny Leon Jr. (Flushing, N.Y. / Benjamin Cardozo) scored two goals, including the eventual game-winner, and added an assist. Departed forwards William Koki and Ernest Afful each recorded a goal and an assist for the Mavericks as well, with Terrell Chapman scoring the other goal on an assist by current junior Juan Carlos Murgueitio (Jackson Heights, N.Y. / Arts & Business). Returning senior Joe Henton scored the Golden Lions' only goal in the 66th minute after they already had gone down 5-0.
Dowling has gotten off to a much stronger start than last year's 2-15-1 campaign, posting a 3-3-1 overall record and going 1-2-1 in the conference, including a 2-1 overtime loss at No. 2 LIU Post and 1-0 win over the University of Bridgeport as well as a 1-0 loss to St. Thomas Aquinas College and a 1-1 tie with Molloy College in conference action. Most recently, the Golden Lions were unable to capitalize on an 18-8 advantage in shots taken as STAC, surrendering a penalty kick which was converted late in the first half.
As one of only two teams shut out of last year's All-Conference squads thanks to an 0-9 mark in ECC play, the Golden Lions entered the year lacking the returning star power much of the rest of the conference boasts. Still, they have managed a 9:7 goal ratio this season, led by graduate student Kariym Balthazar, who has already bettered last year's six total points with seven this year on three goals and one assist. Foreign freshmen Sean Collins and Marcus Thorsen have already integrated themselves into the Starting XI, scoring two goals apiece, while junior and senior backs Raffaele Sorbara and Henton have contributed on both ends of the field, locking down the backline and combining for a goal and three assists. Sophomore Chris Friedl has recorded a 1.12 goals against average and .731 save percentage in net, posting one shutout.
Mercy, meanwhile, has hit its first bump in the season with a 2-0 loss at Bridgeport and 2-2 tie against Dominican (N.Y.) College on Monday after opening the year with four straight shutouts and earning a No. 18 national ranking. The Mavericks were unfortunate not to come away from the Chargers tie with a win, as they outshot their opponent, 34-16, and were not awarded a penalty in overtime when a player appeared to be pulled down in the box. Junior Ryan Flynn (Valley Stream, N.Y. / Valley Stream South) halved the deficit in the 38th minute after the Mavericks fell behind on two early scores, and senior Ransmond Aboagye (Bronx, N.Y. / Boro of Manhattan CC) notched the equalizer in the 70th minute as senior Nick Papas (Castleton, N.Y. / Hudson Valley CC) made nine stops in net.
Mercy has still recorded a dominant 19:6 goal ratio on the year and has yet to allow a goal later than the 24-minute mark. Sophomore Christian Diaz (Watsonville, Calif. / Univ. of Vermont) has starred on offense from the outset, as he leads the team with 15 points on six goals and three assists. Juniors Roberto Dashi (Nyack, N.Y. / Clarkstown South), Danny Leon Jr. (Flushing, N.Y. / Benjamin Cardozo) and Flynn have also totaled nine, eight and seven points, respectively, while Papas has recorded a 0.74 goals against average and .878 save percentage behind a solid backline led by sophomore Gabriel Luna (Watsonville, Calif. / Hartnell College).
Head Coach Chris Smith's squad will kick off at Dowling at 7 p.m. The game will be available online via Livestats, which can be accessed through the men's soccer schedule page.
