FLUSHING, N.Y. – Entering the 2023 East Coast Conference postseason tournament as the #3 seed and still in search of their first-ever postseason victory in program history, the Queens College men's soccer team would not only earn their first postseason victory but head coach
Frank Vertullo and his Knights would advance to their first-ever ECC Final in program history.
Having earned not one but two postseason victories with the game-winning goals coming in the final minutes of play in regulation in the first round and semi-final match, the Knights would become the first #3 seed in ECC Men's Soccer Postseason history to host the championship match.
On Saturday (Nov. 11) afternoon Vertullo and the Knights welcomed the #4 seed The University of the District of Columbia Firebirds to Flushing to play for the ECC Crown and earn the league's automatic bid to the 2023 NCAA Men's Soccer Tournament.
With the season on the line, the Knights would stay on course as they dominated possession throughout the championship match as they outshot the Firebirds by a margin of 21-11 but the biggest shot of the afternoon would come off the foot of rookie
Tommy Gunn (Buenos Aires, Argentina) who recorded his second straight game-winning goal of the postseason to propel the Knights to a 1-0 victory and claim stake to the ECC Championship crown for the first time in program history.
With the victory, the Knights improved their overall record to 11-7-2 and clinched their second straight NCAA Men's Soccer Tournament spot in program history.
Match Recap
Playing in front of their supportive fans and on their own turf, the Knights would dictate the passage of play as they held a majority of the possession in the first half.
Queens wasted no time taking the first shots of the championship match as they recorded three shots in the opening 1:06 minutes of play. But sophomore
Kevin Johnson's (Oakdale, N.Y.) shots would get blocked before senior
Juan Monge Allue (Zaragoza, Spain) shot sailed top right.
The Firebirds would land their first shot of the day in the eighth minute of play but Jonathan Vargas's shot would sail out top.
As Queens continued to attack, the Firebirds led by Dennis Meza-Baez would tally the first shot on goal in the 18
th minute of play but senior goalie
Austin Matthews (Chico, CA) would be up to the task to deny the scoring opportunity.
On the counterattack, freshman
Juan Gomez (Brentwood, N.Y.) and sophomore
Harry Cooke (Market Drayton, England) would tally shots on goal but Firebirds goalie Becerra Sergio would keep the match scoreless.
With under five minutes to go until halftime, a header from Gunn would be saved by Becerra to keep the match scoreless in the 42
nd minute of play.
Despite Queens outshooting the Firebirds 13-6 in the first half, both teams would go into halftime with the match still scoreless.
It would become a defensive battle in the second half play as the shots totaled slowed down as both goalies made a combined four saves.
With the match still scoreless and the clock entering the first 13 minutes of play to force extra time, it would be the host Queens who would strike.
As Queens picked up the lone corner kick of the second half, the duo of senior
Adolfo Martinez Paquet (Sevilla, Spain) and junior
Joaquim Johnson (Brooklyn, N.Y.) would lead the way as Paquet delivered a cross from the far left corner for Johnson to head the ball for Gunn to blast the game-winning goal past the Firebirds defense into the bottom right corner for a 1-0 lead in the 79
th minute of play.
Having taken the lead and needing to defend the final 11 minutes of play, the Knights would continue to keep the high press on the Firebirds as they continued to win every ball in the air.
But after an offside call on the Firebirds in the 86
th minute prevented a dangerous attacking opportunity, it would all Knights as the clock ticked down to zero and celebrations arose on the Varsity Soccer Field for the first time in program history.
Match Highlights
- Gunn recorded his sixth goal of the year to extend his points tally to 12.
- The 79th game-winner gives Gunn his team-leading fourth game-winning goal of the year.
- Paquet recorded his team-leading 14th assist of the year to extend his season points tally to 20.
- Johnson recorded his first assist of the year.
- In goal, Matthews made three saves on the afternoon to earn his second shutout of the year.
- The Knights held a 21-11 shots advantage and 7-3 shots on goal.
- Queens held a 3-0 margin on corner kicks.
- A total of 29 fouls were called with six yellow cards being raised.
NCAA Men's Tournament Seeding
Having clinched the ECC Championship for the first time in program history, Vertullo and his Knights are headed back to the NCAA Men's Soccer Tournament for the second straight season. But they will have to wait until Monday (Nov. 13) evening when the NCAA Selection Shows call their name to see where their next match of the season will take place.
For the latest news on Queens College Athletics, follow the Knights at queensknights.com or via social media on Facebook (Queens College Athletics), X (Formerly Twitter) (@QCKnights), and Instagram (qcknightsny), men's soccer (qcmsoccer).
