Prando and Cruz Connect on First Goal of Season as Men's Soccer Faces Adelphi
Box Score GARDEN CITY, N.Y. (Sept. 4, 2014) – Sophomore Gonzalo Prando (Jefferson Valley, N.Y. / Lakeland) headed a cross from senior Alex Cruz (Suffern, N.Y. / Suffern) just inside the near post for the Mavericks' first goal of the season as the Mercy College men's soccer team kicked off its 2014 campaign against the host Panthers in the Adelphi Tournament on Thursday night.
Prando, who made a quick comeback from a preseason injury to earn his first career start, connected on Cruz's cross in the 22nd minute to level the score after an early Panthers goal. It was a special night for Cruz as well, as the senior last notched a point for the Mavericks as a junior during the 2010 season.
Adelphi jumped out to an early lead in the seventh minute before Prando's equalizer, but added another tally in the 36th minute to take a 2-1 lead into halftime. The Panthers grabbed two quick goals coming out of the break to go up 4-1, but the Mavericks pulled one back in the 80th minute as senior Danny Leon Jr. (Flushing, N.Y. / Benjamin Cardozo) coolly halved the deficit from the penalty spot.
Senior Andrew Levy (Bayside, N.Y. / Berkeley Coll.) put both his shots on target to lead the offense while junior Luis Lizarzaburu (Yorktown Heights, N.Y. / Yorktown) made 10 saves in his first career start between the posts.
Head Coach Chris Smith and the Mavericks will look to bounce back in the tournament as they take on Southern Connecticut State University on Saturday, Sept. 6. Follow the action via livestats and video broadcast, both of which will be accessible via the men's soccer schedule page at MercyAthletics.com.
