FLUSHING, N.Y. – On Saturday afternoon, the Queens College men's soccer team hosted Autism Awareness Day as they welcomed the Autism Society Habilitation Organization in their East Coast Conference match against the Firebirds of the University of the District of Columbia at QC Soccer Field.
In a physical game that saw both teams combine for 32 shots, junior
Nicholas Tagios's (East Williston, N.Y.) two minutes of brilliance would shock the Firebirds as Queens earned a 2-0 victory and their fourth ECC shutout of the season.
With the win, Queens improved to 9-5 overall, 4-2 in ECC play. With four wins, the Knights have earned 12 points and are in third place, one point off second place.
Looking to earn their first win of October, Queens started the game strong earning three corner kicks but were unable to further movements on their setpieces.
While it was the Firebirds who tallied the first shot of the game on goal in the seventh minute of play but senior goalie
Dario Giovanni Cruz (Guadalajara, México) was more than up to the task.
On the other end, freshman
Finlay Armond's (Sleaford, England) shot would go left in the 10
th minute before junior
Leo Pinto (Forest Hills, N.Y.) shot on goal towards the bottom center of the net was denied by the Firebirds goalie in the 16
th minute.
The Firebirds would continue to test Cruz and his defense as the visitors their second shot on goal in the 18
th minute.
UDC tallied three shots on goal compared to one by the Knights even as the home side held a 7-6 shots margin in the first half.
In the final 10 seconds before halftime, junior
Milton Sionakides (Astoria, N.Y.) found a through ball but the Astoria native shot would stay out right as both teams went into halftime deadlocked at 0.
Queens came out with new profound energy to begin the second half but sophomore
Adolfo Martinez Paquet (Sevilla, Spain) and Tagios shot were off target in the opening five minutes of play.
As the visitors started to pick up their pace, they would land three shots but Cruz would deny the lone shot on goal in the 55
th minute as the other two went off target.
With the match still scoreless and play heading towards the final 15 minutes of play, freshman
Oscar Garces (Centereach, N.Y.) won the airball with a flick to Tagios who would capitalize as the East Williston native blasted a shot from 18 yards out into the bottom right corner to give Queens a 1-0 lead in the 75
th minute.
Following a restart to the match, Queens would win back-to-back balls in the air as senior
Brian Garay (Valley Stream, N.Y.) started the run in their defensive half before freshman
Kevin Johnson (Oakdale, N.Y.) flicked the ball in the air from midfield allowing Tagios to put on a dribbling clinic before the junior battled past two Firebirds defenders as he curled a left foot shot into the top left corner giving Queens a 2-0 lead in the 76
th minute of play.
Having taken the lead and with 14 minutes of play, the Firebirds would go down to 10 players as they earned a straight red card. With full momentum, Queens would deny any comeback attempt from the Firebirds to earn their fourth ECC win of the season.
Match Highlights
- Tagios tallied his first career brace and second multi-goal game of his career since his hattrick against Holy Family last season on Sept. 15.
- Tagios notched his fourth game-winning goal of his career and first of the season.
- Garces notched his second assist of the season.
- In goal, Cruz made five saves on the afternoon earning his sixth shutout of the season.
- Both teams tallied 16 shots apiece with the Firebirds holding a 5-3 shots on goal margin as Tagios notched a match-high five shots on the afternoon.
Before the East Coast Conference contest, the Queens College men's soccer team recognized the ECC officiating crew in support of the efforts of D2 CCA and D2 ADA to recognize the P2R Officials' Appreciation Week.
UP NEXT: With a bye-week from conference action, Head coach
Frank Vertullo and his Knights return to non-conference action on Tuesday (Oct. 11) evening as they welcome the Tigers of Holy Family University to Flushing in their Pink Under the Lights game. Kick-off is set for 7:30 p.m.
For the latest news on Queens College Athletics, follow the Knights at queensknights.com or via social media on Facebook (Queens College Athletics), Twitter (@QCKnights), and Instagram (qcknightsny), men's soccer (qcmsoccer).
