Men’s Soccer Concludes Season Falling to Sarah Lawrence

YONKERS, N.Y. — Matthews Avendano (East Elmhurst, N.Y./Monsignor McClancy) and Thomas Mastoras (Flushing, N.Y./Francis Lewis) both scored a goal, but the St. Joseph's College (Brooklyn) men's soccer team wrapped up the inaugural season under Head Coach Adam Brunengo with a 5-2 loss to Sarah Lawrence College.

Despite the loss, the Bears (5-15, 1-9) turned in a four-win improvement over last season and their five wins were second-most in team history. Scoring just 11 goals last season, the Bears nearly quadrupled that mark netting 42 goals that also ranked second-best in team history.

Registering an assist, Kenneth Garcia (Elmhurst, N.Y./Bayside) finishes the regular season as the league leader in points (39) and goals (16) setting program single-season records in both categories.

Joseph Sepulveda (East Elmhurst, N.Y./Bayside) ends his rookie campaign with a single-season record eight assists as the Bears handed out a team record 29 helpers with Garcia and Mastoras finishing with seven assists each.

How it Happened

Sarah Lawrence got on the board just six minutes in on a Collin Berg strike. A back-and-forth first half saw both teams launch an equal 10 shots each and the Gryphons jumping ahead 2-0 in the 37th minute before the Bears responded less than a minute later on an Avendano tally set up by Garcia to remain within striking distance at the intermission, 2-1.

Berg struck again just minutes into the new period to bump the Gryphon lead back to two but the navy and gray quickly responded once again on a Mastoras goal in the 50th minute.

It remained a one-goal game for 30 minutes and the Bears pressed forward looking for the equalizer and outshot Sarah Lawrence over the span, but a Gryphon counter-attack set up a breakaway goal in the 80th minute to put away the game.

For the Bears

• Garcia extended his point-scoring streak to three games, padded his league lead in points (39).
• Avendano and Mastoras both tallied their third goals of the season.
• Alejandro Oliveros (Brooklyn, N.Y./Grover Cleveland) finished with five saves.
• Sepulveda launched a team-high six shots, four on goal.
• St. Joseph's held a 19-13 edge in shots and 8-2 advantage in corners.