RIVERDALE, NY - The CMSV Men's Soccer team returned to action Tuesday afternoon, hosting Skyline Conference foe St. Joseph's-Brooklyn.
Ardijan Berisha netted the game-winner in the 71' to secure the Dolphins 4-2 victory and clinch a Skyline playoff berth. The Dolphins now sit at 6-9-1 overall and 5-4 in conference play.
Kevin Jardines started the scoring for the Dolphins 21 seconds into the game, taking a pass from
Andrew Gomez and beating the Bears keeper to put CMSV ahead 1-0.
The Mount maintained the pressure for the next 15' attempting three shots, including two headers by Gomez, both of which went high over the net.
In the 27', Jardines went on the attack again, attempting a shot on net, which was saved by Bears keeper Julian Rodriguez but it landed on the right foot of
Jair Magallan, who slid it past Rodriguez to put CMSV ahead 2-0.
Less than five minutes later, the Bears got one back thanks to a shot by John Kane, after a cross found him unmarked on the back post to make it 2-1. The Bears were set-up thanks to a CMSV foul just outside the 18 yard box and Cesar Oviedo stepped up and buried the free kick past
David Melchor to tie the game at 2-2.
Shots were nearly equal in the first half with the home side attempting eight and the visitors attempting six but that all changed in the second half as the Dolphins dominated possession and attempted nine shots compared to two for the Bears.
Sloppy play marked the early portion of the second half but the Dolphins went a man up in the 61' when Christopher Cabrera was shown his second yellow card of the game.
The Dolphins immediately took advantage and nearly went ahead in the 63' when
Pablo Tellez's shot hit the left post. They continued their aggressive attack and were rewarded in the 71' minute when Jardines and Magallan drove the ball forward and Jardines's cross found Berisha's foot and he put it past Rodriguez to give CMSV a 3-2 lead.
Over the final 10+ minutes, the Bears were sending all 10 players forward to attack and with 24 seconds left in the game,
Rich Diodati netted his first goal of the season off a cross from
Julius Tumukunde to secure a Mount victory.