FLUSHING, N.Y. – The Queens College men's soccer team enters the final week of the regular season with an overall record of 10-4-2 and a 3-2-1 mark in East Coast Conference (ECC) play. The Knights are coming off a 1-0-1 week, defeating Adelphi University before earning a 2-2 draw against Molloy University to close out Week Eight.
 
For the eighth consecutive week, head coach Frank Vertullo and the Knights have earned a spot in the United Soccer Coaches East Region Poll, checking in at No. 4.
 
Through 16 matches, Queens has scored 35 goals, averaging 2.19 goals per game while recording 17.8 shots per contest. Defensively, the Knights have posted four shutouts this season.
 
Offensively, Queens is led by senior Tommy Gunn, who has tallied a team-high seven goals and three assists for 17 points, including two game-winning goals. Gunn earned ECC Offensive Player of the Week honors on Sept. 7.
 
Senior Keithlend Cesar has recorded 16 points on six goals and four assists, including one game-winning goal. On Monday, Cesar earned his third ECC Honor Roll recognition of the season after recording three points during the Knights' 1-0-1 week. With 17 seconds remaining against Adelphi, Cesar assisted junior Kleverson Bolanos' game-winning goal, as Bolanos curled a shot into the top-left corner to secure the Knights' 2-1 victory. On Saturday against Molloy, Cesar scored directly from a corner kick on the right side of the pitch, recording an Olimpico goal and his sixth goal of the season.
 
Junior Kleverson Bolanos earned his first ECC Offensive Player of the Week honor and his second overall weekly accolade of the season on Monday, Oct. 19. Bolanos recorded four points on one goal and two assists during Queens' 1-0-1 week. He opened the week with a career-high three-point performance in the Knights' 2-1 victory over Adelphi, recording his second goal and third assist of the season. With 17 seconds remaining, Bolanos curled a shot from approximately 15 yards out into the top-left corner to secure the dramatic victory. In Saturday's 2-2 ECC draw against Molloy, Bolanos recorded his fourth assist of the season, setting up senior Andrew Johnson's goal as the Knights scored twice in a span of 34 seconds.
 
Sophomore Stian Haugland and senior Thanasis Shehadeh have shared goalkeeping duties, helping the Knights secure 10 victories. The duo has posted a combined 1.13 goals-against average and recorded 41 saves. Both goalkeepers have earned recognition on the ECC weekly report, combining for four selections this season. Last week, Shehadeh recorded seven saves to help Queens finish 1-0-1 and earn its 10th victory of the season, marking the fifth consecutive season the Knights have reached double-digit wins.
 
The Knights conclude the regular season with two pivotal ECC road matches, beginning Wednesday, Oct. 21, when they travel to Dobbs Ferry, N.Y., to face nationally and regionally ranked Mercy University. Queens will then head to Buffalo, N.Y., on Saturday, Oct. 24, to take on regionally ranked D'Youville University in its regular-season finale.

Mercy University Preview

The Mavericks enter Week Nine with an overall record of 10-3-3 and a 3-2-1 mark in ECC play. Mercy is coming off a 1-0 loss to D'Youville on Saturday afternoon.
 
Mercy is ranked No. 24 nationally and No. 3 in the East Region in the United Soccer Coaches Poll. The Mavericks will be the third nationally ranked opponent Queens faces this season.
 
Wednesday's matchup marks the 21st all-time meeting between the two programs, with the series tied at 9-9-2. The Knights earned a 3-2 victory at home last season after playing to a 2-2 draw in Dobbs Ferry in 2024.

D'Youville University Preview

The Saints enter Week Nine with an overall record of 7-5-4 and a 4-1-2 mark in ECC play. D'Youville concluded non-conference play with a 3-0 loss to Ashland University on Monday afternoon.
 
D'Youville is ranked No. 10 in the United Soccer Coaches East Region Poll and marks the seventh regionally ranked opponent Queens will face this season.
 
Saturday's matchup marks the sixth all-time meeting between the programs, with Queens holding a 4-0-1 advantage in the series. Last season, the Knights played to a scoreless draw at home after earning a 2-0 victory in Buffalo in 2024.

NEXT WEEK OUTLOOK

With the regular season concluding this week, the East Coast Conference is scheduled to announce the full details of the 2026 ECC Men's Soccer Championship on Monday, Oct. 26.

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).