FLUSHING, N.Y. – Returning home to open their final regular-season homestand, the Queens College men's soccer team, which is receiving votes in the national rankings and ranked No. 4 in the East Region, welcomed the Adelphi University Panthers to Knights Field on Wednesday night for their final non-conference match of the season.
After a scoreless first half, Adelphi struck just two minutes into the second half to take a 1-0 lead. Queens responded in the 63rd minute when senior
Jason Udo found the back of the net to level the score. With both sides battling for the go-ahead goal, junior
Kleverson Bolanos delivered the decisive strike with just 17 seconds remaining, lifting the Knights to a thrilling 2-1 comeback victory over the Panthers.
With the victory, Queens improves to 10-4-1 overall and earns its first-ever win over Adelphi in program history.
MATCH RECAP
Both sides opened the contest cautiously before Adelphi recorded the first shot on target in the 11th minute. However, senior goalkeeper
Thanasis Shehadeh made an early save to keep the Panthers off the scoreboard.
Queens began to find its rhythm in the attacking third as senior
Maddox Behnfeldt sent a shot wide left in the 16th minute. Senior
Keithlend Cesar followed with an attempt in the 24th minute, but the Adelphi goalkeeper made the save to keep the match scoreless.
The Panthers threatened again off a free kick in the 26th minute, but Shehadeh made another save before the Knights dealt with the ensuing corner kick. On the counterattack, sophomore
Taro Aboubakary tested the Adelphi goalkeeper in the 27th minute but was denied. Shehadeh recorded his third save of the half a minute later, turning aside another Panthers scoring opportunity.
Despite limiting Adelphi to just one shot over the final 15 minutes of the first half, Queens was unable to find the breakthrough. The Knights recorded seven shots in the opening period, but both teams entered halftime deadlocked at 0-0.
Queens wasted little time searching for the opening goal after the restart, but Cesar's attempt just 42 seconds into the second half was blocked by the Panthers' defense.
Adelphi struck first, however, as the Panthers found the bottom-right corner in the 47th minute to take a 1-0 lead.
With the visitors looking to build on their advantage, Shehadeh made another crucial save in the 53rd minute to keep the Knights within striking distance. Queens quickly looked to respond as Bolanos sent an attempt over the crossbar in the 54th minute before rookie
Kemar Flemmings was denied by the Adelphi goalkeeper a minute later.
The Knights continued to apply pressure and maintain possession in the attacking half, eventually earning a set piece following a Panthers foul approximately 30 yards from goal. On the ensuing free kick, Bolanos and Behnfeldt combined to set up Udo, who slipped a shot past the Adelphi goalkeeper and inside the left post in the 63rd minute to level the score at 1-1.
Adelphi nearly reclaimed the lead two minutes later, but Shehadeh came up with another timely save to preserve the tie.
Following a hard-fought stretch of play in the midfield, the Panthers threatened once more in the 81st minute. This time, Behnfeldt came through defensively with a timely intervention to deny Adelphi a potential go-ahead goal.
Queens held Adelphi scoreless over the final 10 minutes of regulation as both sides continued to battle for the winner.
With the clock winding down and a draw appearing imminent, the Knights mounted one final attack. With just 17 seconds remaining, Cesar and Udo combined to find Bolanos inside the box. From approximately 15 yards out, the junior curled a shot into the top-left corner, beating the Adelphi goalkeeper and securing a dramatic 2-1 victory.
The late winner capped a memorable comeback for Queens, securing the Knights' 10th victory of the season to conclude non-conference play.
BY THE NUMBERS
- Queens outshot Adelphi 18-10 and held a 10-7 advantage in shots on goal.
- Bolanos recorded a career-best three points, tallying his second goal and third assist of the season to bring his season total to seven points.
- Udo scored his first goal of the season, bringing his season total to four points.
- Behnfeldt recorded his first assist of the season.
- Cesar registered his fourth assist of the season, bringing his season total to 14 points.
- Shehadeh made five saves to earn his third victory of the season.
- With the victory, Queens earned its first-ever win over Adelphi in program history.
NEXT MATCH
Queens concludes its regular-season homestand on Saturday, Oct. 17, when the Knights welcome the Molloy University Lions to Knights Field for an East Coast Conference matchup.
Prior to kickoff, head coach
Frank Vertullo and the Knights will honor their graduating seniors during the team's annual Senior Day ceremony.
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).
