NEW ROCHELLE, NY — The College of New Rochelle Mens Soccer team took the field Thursday afternoon for the first official contest in the program’s history. The game, played on Randall’s Island with the New York City skyline in the background, against John Jay College was an evenly played contest through the first 45 minutes. Neither team was able to earn that elusive season-opening goal.
But, that all changed in the 46th minute. as CNR not only found the season-opening goal, but also the first goal scored by a Blue Angel ever, as freshmen Jovanni Garcia (Garden Grove, CA) beat a defender in the box and slotted his shot past Bloodhounds keeper Alexandros Taliotis to move CNR ahead 1-0.
Ten minutes later, freshmen Gabriel Lopez (Madrid, Spain) beat his man down the left side of the box, crossed the ball to the back post where sophomore Nicorey Warren (Brooklyn, NY) came streaking in and headed home the pass to push the Blue Angel lead to 2-0.
CNR kept the pressure on the Bloodhounds for much of the 2nd half as Warren and Garcia each had attempts on goal turned away by Taliotis. Freshmen Cesar Rodriguez (Santa Ana, CA) nearly connected on his first goal in the 71st minute when he broke through into the box, but his shot went just wide right. Moments later, freshmen defender Gerson Arroyave Jr (Coral Springs, FL) connected with Garcia on a long pass out of the back. Garcia one-timed his pass to Warren into the box, and the forward buried his second tally of the match to set the final.
Freshmen Cristian Del Castillo (Harrison, NY) notched his first career win and shutout, having to make four saves on the night. The CNR defense was solid all night, as all freshmen Ty Lenk (Black Mountain, NC), Marco Abrego (West Palm Beach, FL), Daniel De Los Rios (Wellington, FL), Angel Gonzalez (Fort Lauderdale, FL), Juan Vazquez (Pompano Beach, FL), Oscar Guido (Kendall, FL), Jose Martinez (Toano, VA), Allan Ramirez (Coral Springs, FL) and Arroyave put together a clean sheet in the midfield and back lines.
CNR outshot John Jay 17-9 and took 9 corners to the Bloodhounds one.
The Blue Angels (1-0) will be back in action on Sunday when they take a trip to Pennsylvania to play Keystone College.