Two Rookies Score First Goals but Late Surge Falls Short as USMMA Sails By Men's Soccer

KINGS POINT, N.Y. — Freshmen Daniel Goncalves (Woodhaven, N.Y./Cathedral Prep) and Kelvin Garcia (Queens, N.Y./Cathedral Prep) scored their first collegiate goals but the St. Joseph's College (Brooklyn) men's soccer team fell to .500 in Skyline Conference play taking a 3-2 loss from league unbeaten United States Merchant Marine Academy on Saturday morning.

The Basics

• Final Score: USMMA 3, St. Joseph's 2
• Records: USMMA (3-4, 2-0 Skyline), St. Joseph's (3-5, 2-2 Skyline)
• Location: Kings Point, N.Y. – Brooks Stadium

How It Happened

• The Mariners struck first just 6:42 in as Gavin Yingling scored the first of his two on the morning to give the hosts an early lead.
• On the Bears first shot attempt of the game in the 11th minute, Daniel Goncalves took a well-fed chip pass from Beka Goduadze in front of goal mouth and one-timed it past the diving goalie for his first collegiate marker, knotting the game at 1-all.
• The game remained level until the 32nd minute when USMMA scored twice in a span of 44 seconds to take the lead for good. Yingling's putback off a rebound at 32:36 proved the game-winner.
• Both goalies stood up to the test in the second half with Julian Rodriguez making six saves facing 14 shots. Neither team could put one past the keeper until just over two minutes remaining in regulation when Kelvin Garcia pounced on a rebound from an initial shot from Goduadze and brought the Bears within one.
• With the Bears pressing forward, SJC managed one final scoring opportunity gaining a free kick from about 30 yards out with 23 seconds left, but Goduadze's shot wouldn't get past the Mariners wall.

For the Bears

• The goals by Daniel Goncalves and Kelvin Garcia were the fourth and fifth scored by a rookie this year (Thomas Mastoras, Mateusz Georges, Antonio Vidal). Goncalves led the Bears with four shots.
• Senior Beka Goduadze assisted on both Bears tallies and launched two shots.
• Junior Cesar Oviedo handed out his team-leading fourth assist of the season and also had two shots.
• Thomas Mastoras fired off two shots (one on goal).
• Julian Rodriguez made eight saves in net.

The Bear Facts

• Goduadze leads the team with nine points and Oviedo ranks second with six.
• Oviedo has recorded a point in three straight games.
• This is the first meeting between the two schools.
• League newcomer USMMA received a league-high seven first-place votes and was tapped to finish second in the Skyline preseason coaches poll. The Mariners were one of four teams unbeaten in league play entering the weekend all with matching 2-0 records.

Next up for St. Joseph's

After three straight Skyline tests, the Bears will head to The College of New Rochelle for a non-conference matchup on Wednesday, September 28 starting at 7 p.m. at Flowers Park. The Blue Angels of the Bears former conference, Hudson Valley Intercollegiate Athletic Conference, currently boast a 5-1 record in their inaugural season.