The Medgar Evers College men's soccer team put together a dominant second-half performance Friday afternoon, scoring four times after halftime to pull away from the CCNY Beavers, 5-2, in a CUNYAC matchup at the Red Hook Recreation Center.
The victory moved the Cougars to 6-1-1 overall and 2-1 in CUNYAC play, while Medgar Evers continued to apply pressure throughout the contest, outshooting CCNY, 22-12, and putting nine attempts on target compared with seven for the Beavers.Â
Medgar Evers wasted little time establishing an attacking presence. Shackoneal Myrurrie put an early shot on goal, while Shammar Edwards and Tajae Campbell each created opportunities during the opening stages. The Cougars finally broke through in the 19th minute when Mariko Diarisso scored the first goal of the afternoon, finishing off an assist from Myrurrie to put Medgar Evers ahead, 1-0.
CCNY responded less than four minutes later. Konstantinos Psomaras found the back of the net in the 22nd minute to level the match at 1-1, and the teams remained even through the remainder of the opening half. Medgar Evers continued to generate chances, with Myrurrie and Mamadou Seye each forcing saves from CCNY goalkeeper Axel Vazquez, while Diarisso also tested the Beavers' defense.
The Cougars came out aggressively to begin the second half and immediately renewed the pressure. Myrurrie registered another shot on target just seconds after the restart, and Medgar Evers continued to control possession and create scoring opportunities.
That sustained pressure paid off in the 55th minute, as Mamadou Seye scored to restore the Cougars' lead at 2-1. The goal gave Medgar Evers the advantage it would not relinquish.
Just over six minutes later, Myrurrie joined the scoring column. The Medgar Evers attacker found the net in the 61st minute to extend the Cougars' lead to 3-1. Myrurrie finished the afternoon with a goal and an assist while leading the Cougars with seven shots and four shots on goal.
The Cougars kept their foot on the gas, adding another goal in the 65th minute when Campbell scored to push the advantage to 4-1. Campbell finished the contest with a goal on two shots, including one attempt on target.
CCNY refused to go quietly, as Konstantinos Psomaras scored his second goal of the match in the 68th minute to cut the deficit to 4-2. The Beavers then generated additional pressure through the closing stages, including a save by Medgar Evers goalkeeper Vendel Joseph on a shot from Milton Pingarron.
Medgar Evers answered with the deciding blow in the 73rd minute. After a busy sequence that included corner kicks, a blocked shot and a foul drawn by CCNY, Kevi Blackstock Jr. converted a penalty kick to restore the Cougars' three-goal cushion at 5-2.
The Cougars continued to threaten in the closing moments, with Blackstock Jr. and Myrurrie each getting another opportunity and Mouhamed Diakhoumpa also registering a blocked shot.
Diarisso set the tone offensively with the first goal, while Saye notched a tally, and Myrurrie contributed a goal and an assist. Blackstock Jr. and Campbell each added a goal, and Seye recorded an assist. As a team, Medgar Evers produced 22 shots, including nine on goal.
Defensively, Joseph made five saves in goal for the Cougars, helping Medgar Evers withstand CCNY's seven shots on target. The Beavers were led by Psomaras, who accounted for both of CCNY's goals and finished with eight shots, five of which were on frame.
The Cougars will look to build on Friday's CUNYAC victory when they return to action Tuesday evening, traveling the Lehman College's South Field to battle the Lightning in another conference clash. Start-time is scheduled for 6:00pm.
