Mano's Late Goal Earns Men's Soccer's First Skyline Win in Cusu Debut

BROOKLYN, N.Y. — Pandeli Mano's (Bayside, N.Y./Bayside) beautiful goal in the 85th minute lifted the St. Joseph's College (Brooklyn) men's soccer team to a 2-1 triumph over Yeshiva University in their season opener on Thursday evening.

In addition to tallying the first collegiate victory for first-year Head Coach Ovid Cusu, the win also marked the program's first league win since joining the Skyline Conference last season.

The Basics

• Final Score:  St. Joseph's 2, Yeshiva 1
• Records: St. Joseph's (1-0, 1-0 Skyline), Yeshiva (0-1, 0-1 Skyline)
• Location: Brooklyn, N.Y.
• Field: Aviator Field

Video Highlights

How It Happened

• St. Joseph's looked the crisper of the two squads throughout the opening 45 seizing more of the early scoring chances. Beka Goduadze (Tbilisi, Georgia/Lyceum "NK") broke the deadlock just past the 15-minute mark volleying a service from Cesar Oviedo (South Ozone Park, N.Y./Christ the King) from the right wing into the back of the net.
• Goduadze's early goal helped spark the youthful Bears—with six rookies in the starting 11—to a 1-0 lead at the intermission, also maintaining a 6-3 shot advantage.
• Yeshiva found their organization in the second half and gained some early scoring opportunities. Five minutes in, the Maccabees nearly tied the game Albert Dichy shooting a ball past Bears goalie Julian Rodriguez (Whitestone, N.Y./Bayside), but Christopher Cabrera (Ozone Park, N.Y./Christ the King) stopped the shot destined for the back of the net at the goal line with his body.
• But the Maccabees kept the pressure and held a 5-1 shot discrepancy over the first 20 minutes, including another shot that hit the post, before drawing a foul in the box and Itamar Ben David calmly put away the ensuing penalty kick to draw even.
• A tenuous 20 minutes followed with both teams looking to gain the lead and with just over five minutes to play, rookie Thomas Mastoras (Queens, N.Y./Francis Lewis) played a beautiful through ball from the midfield to a streaking Pandeli Mano, a late substitute, whose one-touch chip over the outstretched goalie found the goal from just inside the post for the game-winner.

Quotable

Head Coach Ovid Cusu - "It was a great win for our team. The boys left everything on the field. There were moments where we were the better team, but at the same time, moments when Yeshiva dominated. We have a long road ahead of us, but I'm confident to say these kids work as a team."

For the Bears

• Mano's goal was the seventh of his career, moving him into a tie for fourth all-time. It was also his third career game-winner, moving him into a tie for the program lead.
• Goduadze's goal was the 19th of his three-year career and he now has scored in back-to-back games including last season's finale.
• In addition to dishing out an assist, Oviedo led all Bears with three shots.
• Rookie Rodriguez faced 12 shots in net (five on goal) and made four saves to notch the victory.

The Bear Facts

• The victory is the second season-opening win in team history after a 4-0 win over The New School in 2014.
• The triumph is the first over the Maccabees in six meetings, reversing a 10-3 loss last season — the most lopsided defeat of their inaugural Skyline campaign. Yeshiva was picked to finish in 7th in the preseason Skyline Coaches' Poll while St. Joseph's was picked to finish last in the 12-team league.
• The win snaps a 16-game winless streak dating back to October 22, 2014.

Next up for St. Joseph's

The Bears will try to move two games above .500 for the first time in program history taking on John Jay College on Wednesday, September 7th at Randall's Island at 4 p.m. starting a stretch of four non-league contests.