Second-Half Surge Sends Staten Island Past Women’s Soccer

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — The St. Joseph's College (Brooklyn) women's soccer team (3-3) led for nearly the entire first half but a four-goal outburst by the College of Staten Island in a span of 20 minutes handed the Bears a 7-3 non-conference loss. SJC (3-3) saw their win streak halted at three games, while the Dolphins (3-2) extended their streak to three.

Freshman Julia Lavelle (Bayside, N.Y./Mary Louis Academy) extended her goal-scoring streak to four games finding the back of the net twice and Deserae Sequeira (Clark, N.J./Arthur L. Johnson) scored her Skyline-leading ninth of the season.

How It Happened

The Bears (3-3) shocked the defending CUNYAC champions and preseason favorites to repeat getting on the board first in the sixth minute. Lavelle played a ball from the right wing to Anisah Molic (Staten Island, N.Y./Susan E. Wagner) at the middle of the box who quickly slid it across to classmate Sequeira who buried it in the near-empty left side.

SJC had an opportunity to move ahead 2-0 in the 25th minute when Molic dribbled around a defender and the Dolphin keeper, but couldn't get her foot on the ball to place in an empty net. Staten Island wasn't without their share of scoring opportunities however, as the Bears weathered a barrage of 13 shots, with Reem Shaban (Brooklyn, N.Y./New Utrecht) making nine saves to help keep the Bears ahead 1-0 for nearly the entire first half.

But CSI would strike for two quick goals in the final two minutes of the opening 45. Mirsade Pelinkovic assisted on the equalizer before sending a ball from long distance over Shaban to give the Dolphins a 2-1 at halftime.

SJC came out of the lockers determined to regain the momentum and Lavelle equalized the game less than 30 seconds of the new period, taking a ball at midfield and using her speed to beat two defenders and slipping a shot just beneath the keeper.

Staten Island retook the lead for good in the 52nd minute on Samantha LaValle's second of the game putting away a ball inside the box on a scramble and the Dolphins broke the game open 10 minutes later scoring back-to-back tallies in just over a minute for a three-goal lead. What was an initially low-scoring affair, the hosts would score four unanswered in a span of 20 minutes to build an insurmountable lead.

Lavelle got one back for the navy and white in the 74th minute using her speed again to race by the defense in the 74th minute for her second of the half  that cut the deficit to 6-3.

LaValle pressured the Bears defense all game, finishing with five goals, and getting off 16 shots (12 on goal). The Dolphins would finish with a 34-11 shot advantage in the contest.

For the Bears

• Sequeira scored her Skyline-leading ninth goal of the season and also assisted on another goal. She also moved into a tie for third in the Bears record book with her 32nd career goal. She needs just three more to tie second all-time.
• Lavelle played a role in all three Bear goals, leading the front line with four shots (three on goal). With her third straight multi-goal game, now ranks second on the team with seven goals.
• Molic saw her goal-scoring streak snapped at three games, but helped on two goals for her Skyline-best eighth assist of the season. The sophomore moves into second all-time in SJC program history with her 15th career assist.
• Through six games, the Bears currently have the top three goal scorers in the conference—Sequeira (9), Lavelle (7), Molic (6)—and top two helpers—Molic (8), Sequeira (5).
• Shaban made a season-high 16 saves in defeat.

Next Up for the Bears

The Bears will wrap up their non-conference slate with a trip to Allentown, Pennsylvania to face Cedar Crest College on Tuesday (Sep. 18) kicking off at 7 p.m.