FLUSHING, N.Y. – For the first time in program history, the Queens College men's soccer team has advanced to the East Coast Conference Championship game and earned hosting rights.
 
Led by sixth-year head coach Frank Vertullo and the Knights who earned the #3 seed to the ECC Men's Soccer Tournament will welcome the #4 seed The University of the District of Columbia Firebirds to Flushing on Saturday (Nov. 11) afternoon to play for the ECC Crown and earn the league's automatic bid to the NCAA Men's Soccer Tournament.
 
Also, there will be a new East Coast Conference Champion for the first time in league history since the 2008 season when Molloy University earned their first title in program history.

How they advanced to Saturday's Championship Match

 

#3 Seed Queens College Knights

 
The Knights take an overall record of 10-7-2 into their first-ever ECC Championship match and are riding a three-match win streak.
 
Earning the #3 seed, Vertullo and his Knights began their quest for the ECC Championship Crown by earning a 2-1 victory over #6 seed College of Staten Island Dolphins as senior Leo Pinto (Forest Hills, N.Y.) scored the game-winning goal with 55 seconds remaining in regulation on Wednesday (Nov. 1) evening in Flushing.
 
The victory over the Dolphins would also earn the Knights their first-ever postseason victory in program history.
 
Queens would then travel to Dobbs Ferry, N.Y. as they matched up against defending champions and #2 seed Mercy University Mavericks on Saturday (Nov. 4) afternoon.
 
After taking a 1-0 lead into halftime, the Mavericks would take a 3-1 lead before the Knights rallied. With 20 minutes in the match, Queens would be led by rookie Andrew Johnson (Oakdale, N.Y.) who recorded his first career brace in three minutes to knot the match at 3-3.
 
With extra time looming, freshman Tommy Gunn (Buenos Aires, Argentina) shocked the Mavericks with eight seconds remaining in regulation to deliver the game-winning goal as Queens earned a thrilling 4-3 comeback victory.

#4 District of Columbia

The Firebirds enter Flushing with an overall record of 6-6-7 and are playing in their second ECC Championship match in program history. UDC is on a six-match unbeaten streak with their last loss coming on Oct. 11 to Lock Haven.
 
Earning the #4 seed, led by a brace from Axel Gamez and Eduardo Bugay game-winner, the Firebirds rallied in their First Round Match against #5 seed Roberts Wesleyan University to earn a 3-2 comeback victory to advance to the second Semi-Final match.
 
In the semi-final match, UDC would match up against the #1 seed and Regular Season Champions St. Thomas Aquinas College Spartans. Gamez would score for the second straight match to give the Firebirds a 1-0 lead at halftime before the Spartans tied the match. With neither team unable to find the game-winner in regulation or extra time, both teams would go into a shootout to decide the winner. In the penalty shootout, the Firebirds would emerge victorious to the score of 4-2 to advance to their second Championship match and first since the 2017 season.

Overall Series

It will be the first meeting between both sides in postseason play. Queens leads the All-Time series with a record of 8-3-1.
 
During their regular season matchup on October 7, the Knights fell to the Firebirds to the score of 2-1 in Washington, D.C.

Tickets

Fans are encouraged to buy their tickets in advance and avoid having any issues at the entrance. 
Link: https://eccsports.org/sports/2023/10/30/tickets.aspx

• Adults: $8
• students (with ID) | Senior citizens | Children 5 and up: $4
• Children under 5: Free of charge.  

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).