USMMA’s Come-From-Behind Effort Sinks Men’s Soccer in Skyline Battle

BROOKLYN, N.Y. — A two-goal first-half lead, thanks to Victor Naci (Bordeaux, France/Bernard Palissy) and Diego Volpe (Long Branch, N.J./Red Bank Catholic), was not enough for the St. Joseph's University, NY (Brooklyn) men's soccer team as they fell to the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy, 4-2, on Saturday night from a soggy Aviator Field.

How it Happened

In the fifth minute, Emiliano Avalos (North Bellmore, N.Y./Wellington C. Mepham) played a ball from center circle to Naci. The Bordeaux native beat a defender and the keeper to put the Bears in front. Shortly after, USMMA had a chance to equalize from the penalty spot but Leonel Bravo (Astoria, N.Y./Queens Vocational & Technical) made the stop, his first save of the match. The score remained in the navy and gray's favor until the 27th minute when Volpe scored on a rebound from Lorenzo LaRosa's (Astoria, N.Y./Monsignor McClancy) initial shot. Two minutes later, an SJBK handball in the box led to the Mariners converting the ensuing penalty. The score remained 2-1 going into the halftime break.

At 52' the visitors found the leveler on a through ball to Jason Healey. With over 18 minutes remaining in the contest, a throw-in was headed around in the box before ending up in the back of the net for USMMA's go-ahead goal. They added an insurance goal with 34 seconds remaining to seal the triumph.

Highlights

MSOC (Highlight - 5') | Naci scores his #SkylineMSoc-leading 10th goal of the season to give #SJBK an early lead.

The sophomore Frenchman has scored in 7-straight games and in all but one this season.#BearWitnessSJNY #SJNY #d3soccer pic.twitter.com/Lw6FGN2I6g

— St. Joseph's NY Bears (@SJBKAthletics) October 2, 2022

MSOC (Highlight - 7') | Leonel Bravo stonewalls a PK to preserve the Bears 1-0 lead.#BearWitnessSJNY #SJBK #SJNY #d3soccer #SkylineMSoc pic.twitter.com/PClGXG9GHy

— St. Joseph's NY Bears (@SJBKAthletics) October 2, 2022

MSOC (Highlight - 27') | Diego Volpe puts away a rebound for his second of the season and a 2-0 lead.#BearWitnessSJNY #SJBK #SJNY #d3soccer #SkylineMSoc pic.twitter.com/zBReQnvyiA

— St. Joseph's NY Bears (@SJBKAthletics) October 2, 2022

For the Bears

• Naci, riding a seven-match scoring streak, bagged his 10th goal of the season.

• Naci's goal marked the first time the Bears held a lead against the Mariners in five all-time meetings.

• Volpe netted his second goal of the season

• Avalos and LaRosa each collected their first collegiate assists.

• Bravo came away with six saves.

Up Next

The Bears begin a two-match away week on Wednesday, October 5 with a visit to the College of Mount Saint Vincent. Kickoff from Riverdale is scheduled for 4 p.m. with live stats and video available on sjbkathletics.com/live.