LAFAYETTE, PA – The Queens College men's soccer team erased an early deficit to score three goals to defeat host Chestnut Hill College Griffins 3-1 Wednesday night in non-conference action.

With the win, the Knights improved to 4-2 on the season, while the Griffins moved to 0-3-3 on the season. 
 
Queens win over Chestnut Hill was head coach Frank Vertullo's 28^th career win in Flushing, moving him past Joe Misso on the all-time wins list for head coaches. Taking over the program in 2017, Vertullo has amassed an overall record of 28-19-8 in 55 matches played. 
 
How It Happened

• With barely 30 seconds gone off the clock, Lucas de Sa looked to stun the Knights' defense for an early goal before his shot was blocked. 
• With the home side threatening early, junior Dario Cruz (Guadalajara, México) would deny Conor Seeley's first shot on goal. 
• The Griffins would lead a 1-0 lead in the 16^th minute of play as Miguel Marra dribbled past the Knights defender for de Sa to complete the one-touch shot.
• But the lead would be short-lived as Queens went on the offense. the Knights would get four straight corner kicks but shots by freshman Leonel Zelaya (Amityville, N.Y.) and Nicholas Tagios (East Williston, N.Y.) would get saved.
• After a Chestnut Hill foul earned Queens a free kick on top of the 18-yard box, Zelaya would bury the free-kick through the defense for his second goal of the season in the 22^nd minute. 
• Zelaya looking for his second goal of the game would get denied by Griffin's goalie Steven Cedeno at the 26^thmark.
• After another Griffins foul gifted the Knights a set-piece, freshman Angel Leon Zavala (Wyandanch, N.Y.) delivered a cross on a rebound ball for a Tagios header over Cedeno to put the Knights up 2-1 in the 42^nd minute. 
• Queens kept the momentum in the second as sophomore Tobias Holtz's (Sachseln, Switzerland) shot was denied by Cedeno.
• Zelaya continued to be a threat all game long and added an assist on the night in the 63^rd minute with a pass to senior Erik Hernandez (East Elmhurst, N.Y.) who would blast a shot past Cedeno into the upper left corner to give the Knights a 3-1 advantage.
• With the game in their hand, the Knights defense would only allow one more shot on goal in the 71^st minute but Cruz ensured there would be no late goal. 

By the Numbers

• Cruz made four saves on the night.
• Tagios tallied his team-leading sixth goal and second game-winner of the season.
• Zelaya added his second goal and assist of the season for a season-high three points. 
• Making his first start of the season Hernandez put his name on the goals sheet for his first goal of the season. 
• The Knights held 12-11 shots advantage, 7-4 shots on goal margin.  

Head Coach Frank Vertullo Post Game Comment: "That's a great win on the road, midweek. I'm happy that the boys bounced back after last Saturday's game and down 1-0 in this game.  We must now spend the next two days preparing for Staten Island to get even in conference play."

UP NEXT: East Coast Conference resumes for the men's soccer team as they go up against fellow CUNY College of Staten Island Dolphins for the first time in the Division II era on Saturday (Sept. 25). The Knights make the trek to Staten Island, NY for an 11:00 a.m. kickoff from Dolphin Soccer Park.
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