HOOKSETT, N.H. – Hitting the road for the first time this season, the Queens College men's soccer team matched up against nationally-ranked #6/#1 Southern New Hampshire University Penmen at Mark A. Ouellette Stadium Saturday evening.
In a fiercely physical contest marked by 27 total fouls and four yellow cards, the Knights held their ground against the Penmen until the final 20 minutes, when the home side netted three goals to hand the Knights their first loss of the season.
MATCH RECAP
Queens opened the match on the front foot, with senior forward
Harry Cooke (Market Drayton, England) and senior midfielder
Kevin Johnson (Oakdale, N.Y.) each testing the Penmen goalkeeper with shots on target in the first six minutes. However, both attempts were denied by timely saves, keeping the game scoreless early on.
The Penmen soon shifted the momentum, registering three shots, including one on target, but redshirt-sophomore goalie
Thanasis Shehadeh (Nicosia, Cyprus) was up to the task to keep the Penmen off the scoreboard.
After the Knights successfully defended a Penmen corner, junior midfielder
Andrew Johnson (Oakdale, N.Y.) connected with junior forward
Miguel Soto Gonzalez (Madrid, Spain) to spark a counterattack, resulting in the Spaniard drawing a penalty kick in the 28th minute.
Cooke stepped up to the spot looking to open the scoring and net his fifth goal of the season, but once again, the Penmen goalkeeper came up with a save to keep the match level.
The Knights were outshot 3-0 over the final 15 minutes of the first half, as both teams headed into the break deadlocked at 0-0.
Coming out of the break, the Knights found themselves under pressure as the Penmen controlled the tempo. Shehadeh came up big in the 53rd minute, making back-to-back saves to keep Queens in the match.
In the 68th minute, Soto Gonzalez looked to spark the offense, but his shot sailed wide left of the target.
The home side would break through in the 74
th minute of play to take a 1-0 lead.
As the Knights pressed for an equalizer, they earned consecutive corner kicks in the 77th and 78th minutes, but the Penmen stood strong at the back, clearing both threats to maintain their lead.
The Penmen would record two insurance goals in the final 10 minutes of play to earn a 3-0 victory over the Knights.
BY THE NUMBERS
- Cooke recorded a team-high three shots and two shots on goal.
- Senior midfielder Kevin Johnson (Oakdale, N.Y.) recorded two shots and one shot on goal.
- Soto Gonzalez recorded one shot.
- In goal, Shehadeh notched a season-best five saves.
- The Knights were outshot 16-6, 8-3 shots on goal
NEXT MATCH
The road stand wraps up on Wednesday, Sept. 17 as the Knights travel to Pleasantville, N.Y., for a non-conference tilt against the Setters of Pace University. Kickoff is set for 7 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).
