Bears Soccer Drops Overtime Heartbreaker to Medgar Evers

BROOKLYN, N.Y. – In a battle of two squads seeking their first win of the season, the St. Joseph's College (Brooklyn) men's soccer team jumped out to an early 2-0 lead but couldn't hold off Medgar Evers College, succumbing 3-2 in overtime on Thursday evening at Aviator Field.

St. Joseph's (0-4) struck first in the 13th minute, freshman Kyle Johnson (Red Hook, NY/Red Hook Central) sneaking past the defense and directed a ball from Raul Urshela (Orlando, FL/Colonial) to the back of the net for his first collegiate goal. Seven minutes later, the forwards would team up again, this time Johnson taking a feed from Iqbal Husain (West Palm Beach, FL/Palm Beach Gardens) and working it across the box to Urshela who poked the ball past the Cougar goalie in traffic for his second tally of the season.

St. Joseph's carried their 2-0 lead into the intermission with the defense minimizing the Cougar scoring opportunities, allowing 13 shots in the half, but only three coming on goal.

Medgar Evers (1-4) took to the offensive in the second half, controlling possession in the midfield to built up scoring opportunities, outshooting St. Joseph's 17-2 in the period. The Cougars finally broke through in the 69th minute with Kyheo Farquharson finishing a cross inside the box from Borris Pendie and James Maynard.  Marnard would level the game in the 76th minute, firing a ball from the top of the box over the top of the leaping Michael Miner (Schenevus, NY/Schenevus), who finished the game with 10 saves in defeat.

The Bears remained on their heels for most of the second stanza and the overtime period and scoring opportunities were scarce.  Five minutes into the first overtime period, Nikolai Calder scored the game winner for the Cougar knocking the ball in the net after a scramble in the box.

St. Joseph's will look to rebound on Sunday, September 30 returning to Aviator Field to resume HVMAC play, hosting Sarah Lawrence College.  Kickoff has been pushed back to 6:30 p.m. from the originally scheduled noon start time.