WORCESTER, MA – Hitting the road for the first time since September 9, the nationally-ranked No. 16 and East regionally-ranked No. 2 Queens College men's soccer team faced Assumption University Saturday afternoon at Normand R. Marois '57 Field in non-conference action.
Behind first-half goals from seniors
Tommy Gunn and
Keithlend Cesar, Queens carried a 2-0 lead into halftime. Assumption cut into the Knights' advantage early in the second half, but junior
Noah Gronvold Roe added an insurance goal in the 81st minute as Queens secured a 3-1 victory.
With the win, Queens improves to 7-2-1 overall and earns its third consecutive road victory of the season.
MATCH RECAP
Playing through high winds and rainy conditions, Assumption looked to generate early pressure, but a timely save from sophomore goalkeeper
Stian Haugland kept the home side off the scoreboard.
In the third minute, sophomore
Carlos Villa had his shot blocked as the Knights looked to settle into the match.
Following an Assumption shot that sailed wide right in the sixth minute, Queens continued to increase the pressure.
The Knights would capitalize one minute later as an errant distribution from the Assumption goalkeeper near the top of the 18-yard box allowed Gunn to pounce on the loose ball. The senior quickly fired a right-footed shot into the empty net to give Queens a 1-0 lead in the seventh minute.
In the 25th minute, senior
Ryan Harding sent a long ball forward to a streaking Cesar, who raced into the 18-yard box before sliding a left-footed shot inside the right post and past the Greyhounds goalkeeper to extend the Knights' lead to 2-0.
Over the final 15 minutes of the half, Queens held Assumption to two shots, including one on target, as the Knights took a 2-0 advantage into the halftime break.
As the weather conditions intensified in Worcester, the physicality of the match increased, with the second half featuring 11 fouls and four yellow cards.
Queens opened the second half looking to add to its advantage, with sophomore
Bradyn Brown seeing his shot blocked in the 51st minute.
The Greyhounds responded by picking up the tempo and registered two shots over the next six minutes.
Haugland came up with another timely save in the 64th minute to keep Assumption off the scoreboard.
The Greyhounds would eventually cut into the Knights' lead in the 66th minute, converting a free-kick opportunity from just outside the top of the 18-yard box to make it a 2-1 contest.
Following a stretch in which both sides were limited to four shots, Queens regained its two-goal cushion in the 81st minute. Brown delivered a cross from the right side of the box, and Gronvold Roe rose to redirect a diving header into the net to put the Knights ahead, 3-1.
Queens' defense held Assumption to one shot over the final nine minutes as the Knights secured their seventh victory of the season and their first win as a nationally-ranked team.
BY THE NUMBERS
- Queens outshot Assumption, 15-12, and held a 5-4 advantage in shots on goal.
- Gunn and Cesar combined for eight shots and three shots on goal.
- Gunn recorded his team-tying fifth goal of the season and extended his point total to 12.
- Cesar recorded his team-tying fifth goal of the season and his first game-winning tally and extended his team-best point total to 13.
- Gronvold Roe recorded his first goal of the season and fourth point of the year.
- Harding recorded his first assist of the season.
- Brown recorded his team-leading sixth assist of the season and extended his point total to 12.
- Haugland made three saves to earn his sixth victory of the season.
- With Saturday's victory, Queens earned its second all-time win over Assumption and its first road victory over the Greyhounds in program history.
NEXT MATCH
The Knights open a two-match homestand Wednesday, Sept. 30, as they welcome Franklin Pierce University to Knights Field. Kickoff is set for 5:00 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).
