Garcia Scores in Coach Brunengo Debut as Men’s Soccer Falls to Hunter in Opener

BROOKLYN, N.Y. — Sophomore Kenneth Garcia (Elmhurst, N.Y/Bayside) found the back of the net but the St. Joseph's College (Brooklyn) men's soccer team (0-1) suffered a 3-1 non-conference loss to Hunter College (1-0) at home at Aviator Field in the first game under new head coach Adam Brunengo.

How it Happened

As both teams tried to find their bearings in the season openers, the Bears had an early chance to score first when Mateusz Georges (Brooklyn, N.Y./New Utrecht) intercepted a ball from the Hunter defense and his open look on net clipped the crossbar and sailed high.

After another good look from Georges missed the frame, the Hawks scored first, capitalizing on a Bears miscue in their own end with William Benitez finding Blaise Enama for the game's first goal nine minutes in. Another Bears turnover in their defensive end in the 25th minute allowed Enama to feed Jesus Patino Muniz who slotted the ball just beneath the crossbar over a helpless Alejandro Oliveros (Brooklyn, N.Y./Grover Cleveland)

In the 40th minute, Garcia returned the favor and stripped a Hawks back just outside his box, cruised in, and found the back netting to breathe some life into the Bears trailing by just one, 2-1, at intermission.

SJC couldn't find the equalizer in the second stanza and the visitors maintained a 6-2 shot advantage in the period, with Patino Muniz tacking on an insurance goal in the 68th minute for the final 3-1 differential.

For the contest, the Hawks finished with an 11-6 shooting advantage and a 3-0 edge in corner kicks.

For the Bears

• Kenneth Garcia scored the lone tally for the Bears and recorded two of SJC's six shots.
• Alejandro Oliveros made three saves in defeat.

Next Up

Their first four opponents hailing from the CUNYAC Conference, St. Joseph's will head across the Verrazano Bridge to face the College of Staten Island on Monday, September 3 starting at noon. Links to live video and stats can be found at SJCBears.com.