NEWBURGH, N.Y. – Junior Chris Hill (Flanders, N.J.) scored two first half goals leading Centenary College to a 3-1 win over Mount Saint Mary College in a non-conference match up at Kaplan Field. With even shot totals until the final few minutes and both teams earning multiple quality scoring chances, it was the Cyclones that took better advantage of their chances and ultimately prevailed.
On a very muggy night at Kaplan Field, the Cyclones struck first in the 11th minute. On a goal kick, Centenary goalkeeper Damien Di Buono (Succasunna, N.J.) launched the ball three quarters of the way down the field where it skipped off the head of a Mount Saint Mary defender. Already at full speed after anticipating the play, Chris Hill took control of the ball and beat the keeper one-on-one for a 1-0 Cyclone lead.
Hill's speed and dribbling were on full display later in the first half as well. After picking up a loose ball near midfield, Hill dribbled through two MSMC defenders and snuck a shot past the charging keeper to give the Cyclones a two goal lead.
Four minutes later, in the 42nd minute, Mount Saint Mary College would score and seemingly seize the momentum headed into half time. Junior Jon Gasiewski (New Milford, Conn.) dribbled full speed up the right side, and just before going over the end line, slid a pass across the mouth of the goal. Junior Francis Amarteifio (Accra, Ghana) slid into the ball, one-timing it past the keeper to bring the Blue Knights back within one. The Mount would keep the pressure on for the rest of the half, but couldn't get the equalizer before the horn.
All of the momentum earned just before half time would evaporate just two minutes into the second half. Senior Justin DeFeo (Hawthorne, N.J.) crossed a ball to the top of the box where it found the foot of sophomore Chris Guadagno (West Milford, N.J.). Guadagno released a rocket that found the back of the net for a 3-1 Cyclones lead.
The night was filled with missed opportunities for the Blue Knights. Amarteifio hit the crossbar from just outside the box and junior Nick Morse (New Milford, Conn.) sent a shot from inside of the box sailing over the top of the net. All in all, the shot totals were even until the last few minutes in which Centenary fired a barrage of shots on the scrambling Blue Knights. The shots finished at 20-16 in favor of the Cyclones, but the scoring chances were just about even.
Di Buono made six saves for the Cyclones to earn the win. Sophomore Paul Aries (Nashua, N.H.) made five saves and took the loss for the Mount.
MSMC drops to 2-5 overall and will host Maritime College on Saturday. Centenary improved to 5-4 overall.
