Second-Half Goals Down Men's Soccer in HVIAC Opener at Culinary

HYDE PARK, N.Y.—After a 1-1 deadlock at halftime, the Culinary Institute of America pulled away for a 3-1 win over the St. Joseph's College (Brooklyn) men's soccer team on Saturday afternoon at the CIA Soccer Field in both teams' Hudson Valley Intercollegiate Athletic Conference opener.

The Bears (1-2, 0-1 HVIAC) dropped their second straight after being tied at the intermission, while the Steels (3-2, 1-0 HVIAC) scored three unanswered to snap a two-game skid.

St. Joseph's struck first in the 35th minute on Louis Williams (Albany, N.Y./ Norcross) first goal as a Bear heading in a rebound from Benny Barrios' (Brooklyn, N.Y./Xaverian) direct kick that hit the crossbar.

But Culinary responded immediately drawing a corner less than a minute later as Dylan Soro scored off a corner from Stefano Schiaffino, the first of his three assists, and both teams headed into the intermission tied at 1-1.

The deciding goal came in the 54th minute on another corner kick, Schiaffino delivering a ball to Dan Landon who put it in the back of the net with a running header. Landon would tack on an insurance goal in the 78th minute for the final differential.

Culinary had a slight 24-23 edge in shots for the contest, St. Joseph's outshooting the Steels 14-8 in the first half and the Steels holding a 16-9 advantage in the second half. The Bears held a 7-5 edge in corner kicks.

Jonathan Bedell made eight saves for the hosts in net for the win, while Michael Miner (Schenevus, N.Y./Schenevus) took the loss for the Bears stopping 10 shots.

St. Joseph's has a day off before returning to the pitch against Brooklyn foe Medgar Evers College on Monday, September 22 at 8 p.m. at Aviator Field.