GARDEN CITY, N.Y. – On Wednesday night, the Queens College men's soccer team began a season-high, four-match road trip with a local non-conference contest at Motamed Field in Garden City against the regionally-ranked Adelphi University Panthers.
In a tightly contested match between two regionally ranked teams, both sides combined for 30 shots, including 11 on goal. Despite Queens' strong efforts highlighted by two goals called back due to offside, the Panthers scored the game's lone goal in the first half, ending Queens' eight-match unbeaten streak with a 1-0 victory.
The Knights move to 9-2-2 on the season.
MATCH RECAP
Matching up against the Panthers in Garden City for the first time since the 2015 season, the home side aimed to assert early control, recording two shots on goal in the opening 15 minutes. However, each attempt was spoiled by redshirt-sophomore goalie
Thanasis Shehadeh (Nicosia, Cyprus), who kept the match scoreless.
On the counterattack in the 18th minute, sophomore midfielder
Bastian Engeli (Bergen, Norway) fired a shot on goal, only to be denied by a save from the Panthers' goalkeeper. Following an Adelphi foul that earned Queens a set piece in the 20th minute, rookie forward
Bradyn Brown (Lindenhurst, N.Y.) had a shot from a cross into the box blocked. Shortly after, a header from redshirt-junior defender
Tommy Wagner (East Northport, N.Y.) appeared to give the Knights an early lead, but the effort was nullified by an offside flag, keeping the score tied.
The Panthers then took control, outshooting the Knights 4-0 over the next ten minutes, including two shots on target, but Shehadeh continued to deny their attempts.
Adelphi finally broke through in the 40th minute, sneaking a shot into the far left corner to take a 1-0 lead.
Just before halftime, junior forward
Miguel Soto Gonzalez (Madrid, Spain) fired a shot that sailed wide as Queens headed to the break trailing 1-0.
In the second half, the Knights outshot the Panthers 10-7 as they pressed for the equalizer.
As Queens negated an early Adelphi corner kick in the 49
th minute, senior midfielder
Kevin Johnson (Oakdale, N.Y.) came close to leveling the score in the 51st minute, but was denied by a timely save from the Panthers' goalkeeper.
Two additional offside calls nullified Queens' scoring opportunities as the Knights continued to apply sustained pressure on the Adelphi defense.
Over the final 20 minutes of play, Queens held a 7-3 shot advantage, including three shots on target. However, the Panthers' back line held firm, keeping the Knights off the scoreboard to earn a 1-0 victory on Wednesday evening.
BY THE NUMBERS
- Brown and Soto Gonzalez combined for eight shots and two shots on goal.
- Johnson and Engeli combined for five shots and two shots on goal.
- Wager recorded one shot on target.
- In goal, Shehadeh recorded five saves.
- The Knights were narrowly outshot by a 16-14 margin, including a 6-5 edge in shots on goal.
NEXT MATCH
Staying on the road, the Knights will travel to Staten Island, N.Y., on Saturday, October 18, for an East Coast Conference showdown against the College of Staten Island Dolphins. Kickoff is scheduled for 2:30 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), X (Formerly Twitter) (@QCKnights), and Instagram (qcknightsny), men's soccer (qcmsoccer).
