Newburgh, NY- Tonight the Knights of Mount Saint Mary College, took on the Mariners from the United States Merchant Marine Academy (USMMA).  The Mount entered the game 11th in the conference standings, where as the Mariners came in 4th.  It was a great night for soccer, a real treat for players, coaches, fans, and staff, after the horrible storm the team played through on Saturday.  

The first half of the match was absolutely deadlocked.  The Knights looked like a new team.  Truly some of the best soccer they have played all season.  Out shooting the opponents in the first half 4-2 the passion and energy the team played with was amazing to watch.  Everything was up tempo, passes were quick, transitions, moved and flowed across the field and the counter attacks were extremely well executed.  

The second half, started out much like the first, exciting fast-paced play.  It was in the 54th minute Caesar Martinez put his body on the line for the team.  He went up to take a cross out of the air, and was absolutely steamed rolled by a Mariner forward.  A hit that would have taken most people out of the game, but Martinez is tough as nails.  He got up and put the ball back in play.  Seconds later, a fast break toward the MSMC goal, with absolutely no fear, Caesar came out fearlessly sliding at the feet of the on-coming attack, and collecting the ball.  Countless times the home-side keeper came up huge for the team.  Unfortunately, the two attacks in the 78th and 79th could not be stopped.

This Saturday, Coach Longacre and his men will be traveling to Purchase, as they take on Manhattanville College at 2pm.