FLUSHING, N.Y. – Concluding their homestand Saturday afternoon, the receiving-votes Queens College men's soccer team welcomed the University of the District of Columbia Firebirds to Knights Field for an East Coast Conference matchup.
Queens took an early lead when senior captain
Tommy Wagner converted from the penalty spot in the sixth minute before second-half goals from senior
Tommy Gunn and sophomore
Bradyn Brown propelled the Knights to a 3-0 shutout victory over the Firebirds.
With the victory, Queens improves to 8-3-1 overall and 2-1 in ECC play.
With the victory over the Firebirds, ninth-year head coach
Frank Vertullo earned the 250th win of his head coaching career, spanning nearly two decades between Suffolk County Community College and Queens College.
MATCH RECAP
Controlling possession and dictating the tempo throughout the 90 minutes, Queens looked to put the Firebirds under pressure from the opening whistle.
An offside call negated an early attacking opportunity in the fourth minute before sophomore
Marko Borovic drew a penalty kick inside the box two minutes later. Senior captain Wagner stepped up to the spot and calmly converted the penalty in the sixth minute to give the Knights an early 1-0 advantage.
UDC looked to respond immediately, but a timely save from sophomore goalkeeper
Stian Haugland in the sixth minute kept the Firebirds off the scoreboard and preserved the Knights' lead.
Queens outshot UDC, 8-2, in the opening 45 minutes and limited the Firebirds to just one shot on target as the Knights carried a 1-0 advantage into halftime.
The Knights wasted little time extending their lead in the second half. After Queens earned a free kick from approximately 20 yards out, junior
Kleverson Bolanos delivered a dangerous ball into the box, allowing Gunn to flick his shot into the right corner in the 54th minute to make it 2-0.
With Queens continuing to dictate the tempo and control possession, the Knights' defensive unit limited the Firebirds to just one shot during the second half.
In the 81st minute, junior
Noah Gronvold Roe threaded a through ball into the box for Brown, who calmly finished from close range to put the Knights ahead 3-0.
Queens controlled the closing minutes to secure its eighth victory of the season and second ECC win.
BY THE NUMBERS
- Queens outshot UDC, 16-3, and held a 6-1 advantage in shots on target.
- Borovic, Brown and rookie Kemar Flemmings combined for 11 shots and three shots on target.
- Wagner recorded his second goal of the season, extending his season points total to four while earning his second game-winning goal of the year.
- Gunn recorded his team-leading sixth goal of the season, extending his team-best points total to 15.
- Brown scored his fourth goal of the season, bringing his season points total to 13.
- Gronvold Roe recorded his third assist of the season, extending his points total to seven.
- Bolanos registered his first assist of the season, bringing his points total to three.
- In goal, Haugland recorded one save to earn his second shutout of the season and seventh victory of the year.
NEXT MATCH
The Knights continue ECC play as they open a two-match road swing on Wednesday, Oct. 7, when they visit St. Thomas Aquinas College in Sparkill, N.Y. Kickoff is set for 3:00 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).
