FLUSHING, N.Y. – Returning home to open a two-match homestand, the receiving-votes Queens College men's soccer team welcomed nationally-ranked No. 18 and regionally-ranked No. 2 Franklin Pierce University to Knights Field for a non-conference matchup Wednesday evening.
Trailing 2-0 at halftime and playing a man down for the final 25 minutes, the Knights continued to battle until the final whistle. Junior
Noah Gronvold Roe cut the deficit in half in the 87th minute, but Queens was unable to find the equalizer in the closing minutes as the Knights fell, 2-1.
With the result, Queens moves to 7-3-1 on the season.
MATCH RECAP
Facing their sixth ranked opponent of the season, the Knights looked to apply pressure early, with senior
Tommy Gunn recording Queens' first shot on target in the fifth minute. However, his attempt was denied by the Franklin Pierce goalkeeper.
The Ravens looked to shift the momentum with back-to-back shots in the 10th and 13th minutes, but both attempts sailed wide of the frame.
On the counterattack, senior
Keithlend Cesar saw his shot blocked in the 14th minute as the Knights continued to push forward.
Franklin Pierce controlled the tempo over the final 30 minutes of the opening half, outshooting Queens, 7-0, during that stretch. The Ravens broke through in the 33rd and 35th minutes to take a 2-0 lead.
Just before halftime, an offside call ended a promising Queens attacking opportunity as the Knights entered the break trailing, 2-0.
Queens came out of the halftime break with renewed energy, controlling possession and looking to cut into the deficit.
The Knights immediately applied pressure as sophomore
Carlos Villa forced a save in the 47th minute before graduate student
Anton Mand saw his header denied off a corner kick in the 48th minute.
Queens continued to generate chances as Cesar and sophomore
Bradyn Brown saw their attempts sail wide before Brown forced another save in the 60th minute.
Already trailing 2-0, the Knights were reduced to 10 players when Queens received a red card in the 65th minute.
Despite playing a man down, Queens continued to press forward and put sustained pressure on the Franklin Pierce defense.
In the 67th minute, senior
Jason Udo tested the Ravens goalkeeper, who made a diving save near the bottom-left post to preserve the two-goal advantage.
Sophomore goalkeeper
Stian Haugland kept the Knights within striking distance with two saves in the 72nd and 76th minutes as Franklin Pierce looked to add an insurance goal.
Following their fourth corner kick of the half, senior
Maddox Behnfeldt saw his attempt denied by a timely defensive save from a Franklin Pierce defender.
Queens continued to push forward, and the Ravens' 13th foul of the half awarded the Knights a free kick from approximately 25 yards out in the 87th minute. Sophomore
Marko Borovic delivered a dangerous ball into the box, where Gronvold Roe rose above the defense and headed the ball into the upper-left corner to cut the deficit to 2-1.
The late goal proved to be the final scoring opportunity for the Knights, as Franklin Pierce held Queens without a shot over the final three minutes to secure the 2-1 victory.
BY THE NUMBERS
- Queens outshot Franklin Pierce, 14-13, and held an 8-7 advantage in shots on goal.
- Cesar, Gunn, Udo and Brown combined for nine shots and four shots on goal.
- Gronvold Roe recorded his second goal of the season, bringing his season point total to six.
- Borovic recorded his second assist of the season and increased his season point total to eight.
- Haugland made four saves in the contest.
NEXT MATCH
The Knights return to East Coast Conference play on Saturday, Oct. 3, when they welcome the University of the District of Columbia Firebirds to Knights Field. 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).
