Donovan Cesar Scores Game-Winner as Men's Soccer Posts 1-0 Shutout of Saint Rose in Season Opener
Box Score ALBANY, N.Y. (Sept. 3, 2015) – Powered by a game-winning goal from freshman Donovan Cesar (Jamaica, N.Y./St. Francis Prep) in the 64th minute of action off a feed from sophomore Haxhi Verjoni (Cornwall, N.Y./Marlboro), the Mercy College men's soccer team opened up the 2015 season with a 1-0 shutout victory over the College of Saint Rose on Thursday night at Sullivan Field.
The Mavericks win their opener for the first time since 2013 when they started 6-0 and ended the season in the ECC playoffs, while the Golden Knights fall in their season opener.
Cesar ended the night with three shots in his debut, while Verjoni tallied a pair of shots. Freshman Lucca Lacerda (Passos, Brazil/Monroe College) produced two shots on goal, while graduate student Juan Gatti (Buenos Aires, Argentina/INJ (Monroe CC) fired a pair of shots. Head Coach Chris Smith and the Mavericks received strong goalie play from both redshirt sophomore Julio Sanchez (Henderson, Colo./Otero JC) and freshman Robert Retnauer (St. James, N.Y./Smithtown East) who combined to pitch a shutout in their Maverick debuts. Sanchez got the start and made three saves before Retnauer took over in the second half and held on for the victory to improve to 1-0 in net.
Leading Saint Rose was Romaine Williamson who took a match-high four shots, while goalkeeper Colan Balkwell made five saves in taking the loss.
In a contest that was evenly played with few clear chances for either side, neither team was able to find the back of the net for the first 64 minutes of the contest. Lacerda had a chance in the 28th minute but Balkwell was able to deflect the shot over the crossbar to keep the game scoreless.
After a scoreless opening half, the Golden Knights had an opportunity in the 54th minute as Lewis Achu sprung Williamson for a threat, but Williamson's shot ended up high and the game remained knotted up at 0-0.
Following substitutions by both teams with just under 30 minutes remaining in regulation, Cesar would end the scoring drought in the 64th minute as he took a cross from Verjoni from the right endline and one-touched it inside the right post to give Mercy a 1-0 lead.
The Mavericks held on for the victory as Saint Rose was unable to put a shot on goal in the second half.
Mercy ended the contest with a narrow 13-11 edge in shots and 5-4 margin in corner kicks.
Smith and the Mavericks continue their upstate road trip as they travel to Syracuse to take on Le Moyne College on Saturday, September 5th at 12 p.m.
