VALHALLA, NY – The College of Mount Saint Vincent Men's Soccer team advanced to the Hudson Valley Men's Athletic Conference championship game with a 3-2 win over third seeded Cooper Union on Sunday morning at Westchester Community College.
Mike Hernandez (Ridgefield, NJ) scored two goals, including the game winner with just under 10 minutes remaining in regulation.
Cooper Union got on the board first at 2:48 on an own goal by Mount Saint Vincent. A misplay by the defense sent the ball into the Dolphins' own net and Cooper Union to the early advantage. The Dolphins tied the score at 13:10 on a goal by Bill Raftery (Throggs Neck, NY) on a centering pass from Ricardo Gonzalez (Rockland, NY). Mount Saint Vincent would score its second goal of the half at the 41:17 mark on Hernandez's first tally of the contest. He picked up a free ball just inside the penalty area and found the back of the net to give the Mount a 2-1 lead at the half.
Cooper Union knotted the score at 2-2 just under five minutes into the second half on a goal from George Todorov. After deflections from James Cole-Henry and John Consiglio, Todorov snuck the ball in to tie the score.
The game would remain tied until the 80:25 mark, when Gonzalez dribbled the ball past Cooper Union keeper Fabio Alvinoroca along the touch line and found Hernandez out in front. Hernandez buried the ball in the open net, sending the Dolphins to the win and to the HVMAC Championship game next Sunday.
James Green (Waldwick, NJ) got the start in net and made five saves, while Fitzroy Lawson (Yonkers, NY) came on for the final 25:00 minutes and made three stops.
For the game, shots were 18-14 in favor of the Mount and corner kicks were 6-5, also in favor of Mount Saint Vincent. Fouls in the contest were even at seven apiece.
With the win, Mount Saint Vincent will take on the winner of the Culinary Institute and Webb Institute next Sunday at the Culinary at a time to be determined.
Mount Saint Vincent will be in action next on Monday, October 29 when they take on Yeshiva University. Kick-off is scheduled for 8:00 p.m. at Tibbetts Brook Park in Yonkers.
