Newburgh, N.Y. – In the second year of the Mount Saint Mary College Invitational, the Skyline schools got the better of the CUNY schools on the opening day. Mount Saint Mary earned their first win of the season with a convincing 2-0 win over York College and Old Westbury put on a scoring display in a 4-1 defeat of Medgar Evers College.
In what turned to be extremely hot and sunny conditions, Mount Saint Mary was clearly the better team in the opening game of the day. The Blue Knights fired fifteen shots on goal in the game as compared to York's two, and really controlled the tempo of the game right from the opening whistle.
It would take some time for the Mount to get on the board, however, as they missed on a number of scoring chances early in the first half. Junior Nick Morse (New Milford, Conn.) was robbed by a great save form the York keeper and freshman Chris Boydston (Highland Mills, N.Y.) drilled the crossbar from inside the box. The Blue Knights would finally get on the board in the 43rd minute when sophomore John Como (Wingdale, N.Y.) won the ball from a York defender inside the box and then finished the play for a 1-0 lead. The goal was the first of Como's collegiate career.
At the start of the second half, Mount Saint Mary would get an insurance goal from junior John Benanati (Dix Hills, N.Y.). After a beautiful cross from senior B.J. Masopust (Wallkill, N.Y.), Morse headed the ball across the goal line to Benanati who touched it in with the outside of his foot. It was also the first collegiate goal for Benanati.
In the second game of the day, Old Westbury scored three goals in the first half en route to a 4-1 victory over Medgar Evers. Senior Alex Renwart (Baldwin, N.Y.) connected on a penalty kick in the 5th minute for a 1-0 lead, while junior John Senatore (Ridge, N.Y.) scored goals in the 28th minute and the 36th minute to give the Panthers a 3-0 cushion headed into the intermission.
Sophomore Fabian Santibanez (Locust Valley, N.Y.) connected on an unassisted goal early in the second half to put Old Westbury up 4-0. Medgar Evers would break up the shutout in the 86th minute on a pretty goal from junior Kerry Celestine (Brooklyn, N.Y.).
Mount Saint Mary and Old Westbury each improved to 1-2 on the young season. York dropped to 1-2 while Medgar Evers fell to 0-3. The teams will switch around tomorrow with Old Westbury taking on York College in the opener at 12:00 p.m. and Mount Saint Mary playing Medgar Evers at 2:00 p.m.
