News Release

Cardinals Advance to CUNYAC Semi�s with 1-0 Win over CCNY

JAMAICA, NY� Elysee Vilsaint�s (Port-au-Prince, Haiti/ South Shore) goal in the 72nd minute would be all the York College men�s soccer team would need as the Cardinals defeated the City College of New York, 1-0, in the quarterfinals of the City University of New York Athletic Conference (CUNYAC) Championships Wednesday.

Freshman Hugo Cicanois (Santiago,Chile/ School 436) set up Vilsaint�s game-winner which put the defending CUNYAC champions in the semi-finals for the third consecutive year. After Cicanois� pass, Vilsaint beat a defender and shot the ball past CCNY goalie Taiwo Alabi on the right side. The York defense stifled the CCNY attack the rest of the way and the Cardinals held on for the win.

In the first half, scoring opportunities were hard to come by. CCNY�s best opportunity came at the 30 minute mark when the Beavers had a chance at an open net. However, York defender Dukens Riche (Brookyn, NY/ South Shore) was able to clear the ball away before a shot could be made.

Then with five minutes remaining in the first half, York missed an opportunity when Vilsaint made a beautiful cross to Roy Rambarran (Essequieo, Guyana/ Van Buren) but Rambarran�s header just cleared the post.

In the second half, in the 48th minute, York had another golden opportunity when Vilsaint broke free for an open look at the goal. However Alabi made a sensational diving stop to keep the game scoreless. Vilsaint would eventually get the best of Alabi when he beat him for the game�s only goal 24 minutes later.

York controlled the ball for the majority of the game and held a 10-6 advantage in shots and a 5-1 edge in corner kicks. Sophomore goalie Marcin Kasza (Kobluszowa, Poland/ Newcomers) stopped two shots to earn the shutout.

The Cardinals improve to 10-7 with the win, while the Beavers finish their season with a record of 4-14.

�I think we could have done better but a win is a win,� said York assistant coach Kafui Kouakou. We need to work on the little mistakes and go from there.�

York will play the winner of the Medgar Evers College/ Baruch College game, which will be played on Saturday at the College of Staten Island at 2 p.m.

�They are two very different teams,� added Koukaou. We will have a different strategy for both teams going in� Either way, we�ll be prepared.�


Submitted 2008-10-29 15:29:17 by York College-NY Sports Information Department

Comments: