FLUSHING, N.Y. – Continuing their homestand with another Top-10 regional showdown, the No. 5 Queens College men's soccer team welcomed No. 6 Wilmington University Wildcats to Knights Field for the first time since the 2011 season.
After trailing 1-0 at halftime, the Knights offense erupted for three second-half goals as sophomore
Bradyn Brown recorded a season-best four points with a goal and two assists. Sophomore
Marko Borovic tied the contest in the 67th minute before Brown put Queens ahead in the 71st minute. Senior
Tommy Gunn added an insurance goal in the 81st minute as Queens earned a thrilling 3-1 comeback victory over the Wildcats.
With the victory, Queens improves to 5-1-1 on the season.
MATCH RECAP
The Knights looked to open the contest quickly as junior
Kleverson Bolanos had his shot blocked in the fourth minute of play.
However, it was the Wildcats who would take an early lead, scoring in the sixth minute. Wilmington nearly doubled its advantage one minute later, but a timely save from sophomore goalkeeper
Stian Haugland kept the deficit at 1-0.
After an offside call negated a scoring opportunity for the Knights, senior
Keithlend Cesar's shot on target was denied by the Wildcats goalkeeper in the 12th minute.
As Wilmington saw its third shot of the first half sail wide right in the 14th minute, the Knights offense continued to increase the pressure in search of the equalizer.
Following a Wilmington foul that earned Queens a free kick, the Knights registered five straight shots on goal, but the visitors held firm and denied Queens the equalizer.
Queens' defense held the Wildcats to just one shot over the final 30 minutes of the first half, with Haugland recording his second save of the contest. Despite outshooting Wilmington, 14-4, the Knights entered halftime trailing 1-0.
The Knights offense picked up where it left off as Queens outshot the Wildcats, 3-1, during the opening 15 minutes of the second half.
After another offside call negated an attacking opportunity for Queens, a Wilmington shot sailed wide left in the 67th minute.
The Knights would quickly turn up the pressure as sophomore
Carlos Villa and Brown connected with Borovic, who blasted a right-footed shot into the top-left corner to tie the contest at 1-1 in the 67th minute.
Looking to ride the momentum, senior
Anton Mand and Cesar had their shots on goal denied by back-to-back saves from the Wildcats goalkeeper in the 69th and 70th minutes.
However, as Mand delivered a long ball into the box, Brown put Queens ahead with a right-footed shot into the middle of the net, giving the Knights a 2-1 lead in the 71st minute.
As Haugland and his backline continued to keep the Wildcats offense at bay, the Knights continued to pressure the Wilmington defense.
Queens would put the game out of reach in the 81st minute after earning an indirect free kick inside the six-yard box following a corner kick. Brown quickly put the ball into play for Gunn, who blasted home the third goal of the contest to give Queens a 3-1 lead.
Over the final nine minutes, Queens held Wilmington to two shots, with Haugland making his third save of the contest as the Knights secured a thrilling 3-1 comeback victory heading into their East Coast Conference opener Saturday afternoon.
BY THE NUMBERS
- Queens outshot Wilmington, 27-8, and held a 14-4 advantage in shots on goal.
- Sophomore Taro Aboubakary, senior Andrew Johnson, Borovic and Brown combined for 15 shots and eight shots on target.
- Brown recorded a season-best four points with his second goal and game-winning goal of the season to go along with two assists.
- Brown leads the Knights with five assists on the year.
- Borovic recorded his second goal of the season.
- Gunn tallied his team-tying fourth goal of the year and extended his points total to 10 on the season.
- Mand and Villa recorded their first assists of the season.
- Haugland recorded three saves to earn his fourth victory of the season.
- Queens earned its second victory over Wilmington in program history and first since the 2011 season.
NEXT MATCH
Staying home, Queens opens ECC play on Saturday, Sept. 19, as the Knights welcome defending champions Roberts Wesleyan University Redhawks to Knights Field. Kickoff is set for noon.
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).
