FLUSHING, N.Y. - After a slow start to the 2023 season, the Queens College men's soccer team bounced back with an undefeated week going 2-0 as they earned a victory over a regional-ranked team. The Knight would conclude the week with a victory in their East Coast Conference opener.
Queens begins the week on the road in non-conference play with a matchup against Holy Family University Tigers on Wednesday (Sept. 20) evening before hosting defending ECC Champions Mercy University Mavericks on Saturday (Sept. 23) evening.
Schedule for the Week (9/18 – 9/24)
- Wednesday (Sept. 20) – at Holy Family University – 7:00 pm
- Series History: 4-2-1
- Steak: W2
- Last Match: W, 2-0 Away (10/11/22)
- Saturday (Sept. 16) – vs. Mercy University – 7:30 pm
- Series History: 7-8-1
- Steak: L6
- Last Match: L, 2-3 Home (11/3/22)
Queens College Knights Preview (2-2-1 Overall Record, 1-0 ECC)
- Head Coach Frank Vertullo and the Knights went undefeated last week with a 2-0 result earning a 2-1 victory over #8 regional ranked Southern Connecticut State and a 1-0 victory over Daemen in their ECC opener.
- Sophomore Harry Cooke (Market Drayton, England) leads the offense having tallied three goals goal on the season for six points.
- Cooke has earned back-to-back ECC Honor Roll spots on the weekly award sheet.
- Rookie Andrew Johnson (Oakdale, N.Y.) recorded his first career goal helping the Knights open ECC play on a high note.
- In net, junior Juan Cruz Ladino (Cali, Colombia) earned his first career start and would quickly reward the decision by helping the Knights go 2-0 on the week.
- Ladino would earn ECC Defensive Player of the Week honors on Monday (Sept. 18) afternoon.
- He would make eight saves including a career-best five saves in the Knights 1-0 victory earning his first career shutout.
Holy Family University Tigers Preview (2-2-1 Overall Record)
- Holy Family enters the week with an overall record of 2-2-1 and are coming off a 1-1 week as they earned a 1-0 victory over Molloy before a 0-2 to Felician on Sunday.
- Wednesday's match will be the eighth match against the Tigers in program history with the Knights leading the series 4-2-1.
- It will be the fourth straight meeting against the Tigers since the 2019 season.
- The Tigers are led by Lautaro Berisso who has tallied six points for three goals, while Thiago Lage and Kerin St. Clair Jr have combined for four goals.
- In goal, Luke Shank has made 18 saves and holds a 1.80 goals against average.
Mercy University Mavericks Preview (3-1-2 Overall Record, 1-0 ECC)
- Mercy has opened the year with a 3-1-2 record and are coming off a 1-0-1 week with a tie against American International College and a 3-0 victory over D'Youville in their conference opener.
- The Wildcats will match up against Gannon on Wednesday afternoon before hosting the Knights on Saturday.
- Saturday's match will be the 17th meeting in program history against the Mavericks with the Knights in search of their first victory since the 2015 season when they earned a 1-0 victory.
- The last home victory came on November 4, 2014, when the Knights earned a 2-1 victory.
- The Mavericks are led by Carlos Fernandes who has recorded nine points for three goals and three assists, while Johannes Hanken Tjostheim has tallied three goals, and one assist for seven points.
- In goal, Erik Elvestad has recorded 17 saves and holds a 0.83 goals against average with three shutouts on the season.
Next Match
The Knights two-match homestand continues on Wednesday (Sept. 27) evening as the Chargers of Dominican University of New York come to Flushing.
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).
