Bears Soccer Drops Season Opener to Brooklyn College

BROOKLYN, N.Y. – The St. Joseph's College (Brooklyn) men's soccer team dropped a 5-1 decision to borough rivals Brooklyn College on the road in their 2012 season opener.

Brooklyn (2-3) snapped a two game skid powered by five different Bulldogs who found the back of the net.

St. Joseph's (0-1), who kicked off its second varsity season of men's soccer, spent most of the contest on the defensive, surrendering a 35-4 shot disadvantage.

Peterson Petit Frere put the Bulldogs on the board first with a goal in the 10th minute.

St. Joseph's drew even three minutes later when sophomore Raul Urshela (Orlando, FL/Colonial) stole the ball from the Bulldog goalie who played the ball outside the box on the right wing and Urshela chipped the ball over a recovering defender for the Bears' first goal of the season.

The Bulldogs pulled ahead for good in the 25th minute on a Dedou Toure goal coming off a Patjim Gjonbalaj cross.  Despite being outshot 23-3 in the first half, the Bears trailed only 2-1 at the intermission.

The Bears defense clung to a one goal deficit for most of the second half with sophomore goalkeeper Michael Miner (Schenevus, NY/Schenevus) making five saves after facing eight early shots. The Bulldogs broke through with an insurance goal in the 70th minute off the foot of Dmitry Prokofyev and tacked on two late goals.

Miner finished the evening with 12 saves. Freshman Matthew O'Neill (Brooklyn, NY/St. Edmund Prep) registered two shots to lead St. Joseph's. 

St. Joseph's has a quick turnaround returning to action on Saturday, September 15 facing NYU-Poly at the Aviator Sports Complex in Brooklyn, NY.