Men’s Soccer Concludes Successful First Season Under Cusu Celebrating Senior Day Against Old Westbury

BROOKLYN, N.Y. — The St. Joseph's College (Brooklyn) men's soccer team held the No. 3 team in the Skyline Conference scoreless over the first 45 minutes, but conceded four second-half goals in a 4-0 league defeat to SUNY College at Old Westbury in their season finale on Wednesday night.

Despite the loss, the Bears finish their first season under Head Coach Ovid Cusu matching the program record for wins (7) and with four league wins finishing in ninth place, up three positions where they were predicted to finish in the preseason coaches' poll.

The Basics

• Final Score: Old Westbury 4, St. Joseph's 0
• Records: Old Westbury (11-4-4, 8-2-1 Skyline), St. Joseph's (7-11, 4-7 Skyline)
• Location: Brooklyn, N.Y. – Aviator Field

How It Happened

• An evenly matched first half saw both teams tied 6-6 in shots and both goalies making three saves each to maintain a scoreless period.
• Old Westbury had the first good scoring opportunity in the 16th minute when Dominick Guidice broke in on goal but Julian Rodriguez stonewalled him. In the 39th minute the Bears got their first good scoring opportunity when Rodriguez punted the ball to senior Beka Goduadze and dribbled past the defense but was stopped by the Panther keeper.
• The visitors came out of the lockers with a purpose as they needed a victory to lock up the No. 3 seed for the upcoming Skyline Conference Championships and the Panthers outshot the Bears 17-4 in the stanza.
• After a near goal in the second minute of the new half off a free kick, Old Westbury drew first blood in the 54th minute off a free kick set piece left of the box that was headed in by James Marchena.
• The Panthers padded the lead three minutes later on Fabrizio Chamorro's goal from the top of the box and the two-goal deficit stunted the Bears momentum. The visitors tacked on two more goals in the 69th and 89th minutes to complete the scoring.

For the Bears

• Senior Beka Goduadze and freshman Thomas Mastoras both lead the offense with four shots each with two coming on goal.
• Kelvin Garcia and Michael Ortiz each recorded a shot.
• Freshman Julian Rodriguez finished with seven saves.

The Bear Facts

• Finishing the season at 7-11, the Bears match the program record for wins in a season and show a 4.5 game improvement over last season's 0-13-2 mark.
• Predicted to finish last in the 12-team Skyline Conference, the Bears finish in 9th place in their second year in the league. 
• Senior Beka Goduadze finishes his three-year career in a Bears uniform second all-time in goals scored (25) and points (58) and his five game-winning goals are a program best.
• Senior John Kane played in his 21st game today. The defender finishes with one goal and an assist.