Knights Beat Bayhawks 2-0 to Improve to 3-0!
09.18.21
Men's Soccer 2021
Warwick, R.I. – September 20, 2021: The CCRI Knights men’s soccer team travelled to Durfee High School in Fall River, MA on Saturday to take on the Bayhawks of Bristol Community College in a Region XXI league match. The Knights defeated the Bayhawks 2-0. With the victory CCRI improves to 3-0 on the season and 1-0 in Region XXI play.
The CCRI men' s soccer team returned to play for the last weekend of the summer on a beautiful Saturday afternoon. The Bayhawks versus the Knights is always a very entertaining match. Both teams bring technical and aggressive elements into their matches and this one would be no different. Knights’ Head Coach Gabe Toro started with an offensive-minded tactical approach, having Matt Gibeau (Warwick, RI) and Busime Yosta (Pawtucket, RI) on the outside flanks trying to overload the wings with their speed and relentless mentality. “The best defense is a good offense” commented Coach Toro. Yosta and Gibeau did an excellent job executing their assignment. They both got up field and had some good looks at goal intensifying the attack for the Knights all game.
In the 26th minute, Aaron Ramos (Warwick, RI) settled a ball down around 25 yards out from the Bayhawk net, taking a look and pushed the ball forward and launched a 22-yard toe bomb to catch the Bristol goalkeeper on his heels. The driven ball rippled along the turf and found its way into the net to give the Knights a 1-0 advantage. The Knights took their slim 1-0 lead into the halftime break.
Aaron Ramos and Daniel Tinoco (Providence, RI) commanded the midfield and were the set-up men for the Knights and were assisted by Ethan McDermott (Cumberland, RI) who had another amazing game in the defensive midfield recovering balls and fighting for possession. The Knights offense began creating more chances as they game went on. CCRI also had an impressive showing by their defensive corps: Cristian Justiniano (Providence, RI) played a masterful game, getting into tackles with precise timing and reading the plays as they developed. Fabian Mueller(North Kingstown, RI) also had a solid performance, backing-up Justiniano and also being clinical in the backline. Mueller earned his first start this season as Nick Guertin (Cranston, RI) was still recovering from a knock. In the net for the Knights, freshman Alex Johnson (West Warwick, RI) started for Co-Captain Ednilson Tavares. Johnson did an excellent job for the Knights, coming out to attack crosses and winning all the crosses that came into his area. Coach Toro added “Alex did an amazing job and completed a solid defensive effort by the Knights.”
The offense kept working chipping away at the Bayhawks’ defense. In the 56th minute of the second half Sebastian Coso (Pawtucket, RI) took a corner kick for the Knights which he played into Daniel Tinoco who stayed true to his latest form and shot the ball to the far corner of the net to make it 2-0 Knights. CCRI had had a couple more scoring opportunities as the game went on but were not able to convert. Knights won by the final tally of 2-0.
Key subs for the Knights kept the momentum and intensity at its peak as the clock waned. Co-Captain Pablo Puac (Pawtucket, RI) put in a great effort though he was banged up. Both, Cristian Gaviria (Cranston, RI) and Sam McCutcheon (Smithfield, RI) filled in some midfield positions and were helpful in keeping the attack going and supporting Puac. Ricardo Foster(Cranston, RI) and Joe Dorce (Providence, RI) also came into the game to hold the ball for the Knights up top and create some scoring opportunities.
Overall, the Knights played well and supported each other. Coach Toro commented “The team this year believes and supports each other earlier in the season, more than ever before and the players are taking in the coaches' game plan and applying it to the games. In the past, the players did not buy into the system until it was too late in the season.” Coach Toro attributes this 3-0 start this year to this concept. Toro added “The players are working hard for each other and they all are more mature and are constantly building each other up.” Before the game, Coach Toro addressed his team and told them: “Your positive energy has made a big difference when they are faced with adversity and he encouraged them to keep it going!”
The next game for the CCRI Knights will be Tuesday the 21st when they travel to Springfield Technical Community College at 4pm for another Region XXI showdown.
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The Community College of Rhode Island, New England’s largest comprehensive community college, enrolls nearly 10,000 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.