Battle of the Knights Ends in 1-1 Draw

09.13.19

Warwick, R.I. – September 13, 2019: The CCRI Knights men’s soccer team travelled to Haverhill, Massachusetts to face off with the Northern Essex Community College Knights. Both teams capitalized off of set pieces and the game would end in a 1-1 draw. The tie pushes CCRI’s season record to 1-2-1 overall and 0-1-1 in Region XXI play.

CCRI came into Thursday’s match looking to bounce back from the difficult defeat to the No. 1 nationally ranked Monroe College Mustangs. Northern Essex entered the game looking for their first victory of the 2019 campaign after starting with one loss and a tie.

Both teams played well but were tentative at the start, attempting to feel each other out prior to throwing numbers forward. Offensively, CCRI had a difficult time getting started, with the midfield having to provide the spark in the form of freshman Jose Orozco (Pawtucket, RI) and sophomore Delpio Alves (East Providence, RI) were to take the lead and power the offense. CCRI amassed 10 total shots but struggled to find the target, not registering a shot on goal in the first half. Neither team scored as they headed into the halftime team talks level at 0-0.

The second half started sharper for CCRI as they began to push higher up the pitch and get the ball into dangerous areas. In the 52nd minute sophomore co-captain Jacob Leander (West Warwick, RI) capitalized on a foul, scoring directly from the freekick approximately 40 yards out for his first goal of the season. The shot was hit with such venom that it rattled the entire frame of the net. Head Coach Gabe Toro ‘It will definitely be a candidate for goal of the year.’

CCRI had a breakdown on the attack that resulted in a counterattack that caught the defense out of position. This required in a last-ditch tackle within the CCRI penalty area that was not successfully performed and awarded Northern Essex a penalty in the 65th minute. Sophomore co-captain Juan Gonzalez (Providence, RI) who had registered four saves in the game was unable to save the “shot from the mark” which tied the game at 1-1.

The game went into two overtimes and yet neither team could score again and the game ended at 1-1, a point to both teams.

The CCRI Knights men’s soccer team will next be in action on Saturday, September 14th at 1:00 p.m. as they host the Bristol Community College Bayhawks.

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The Community College of Rhode Island, New England's largest comprehensive community college, enrolls nearly 15,000 students in credit courses and thousands more in non-credit and job training classes. Its athletic program boasts 12 varsity programs and an academic support program for all student-athletes.