BROOKLYN HEIGHTS, NY - The St. Francis Brooklyn men's soccer team picked up its first win since Oct. 4 on Sunday afternoon as the Terriers knocked off Central Connecticut State (CCSU), 3-2, on Senior Day.
The win over the Blue Devils marks the tenth consecutive win over the Northeast Conference (NEC) foe.
HOW IT HAPPENED
After holding possession for nearly 60% of the first half, the Terriers finally got on the score in the 32nd minute after Central's Daniel Wilmore was called for a foul inside the 18-yard box. The referee wasted no time pointing to the penalty spot and Khaled Abdella stepped up for the first time in his collegiate career, who slotted the ball away to take a 1-0 lead.
After waiting nearly four years for his first penalty chance, Abdella would get his second attempt just 44 seconds later. Making a run into the 18-yard box, Abdella was pulled down from behind by the Blue Devils' Kyle Halehale. He stepped up again and sent the Central keeper the wrong direction for his second of the game.
The reverse scenario unfolded just 36 seconds later as Central moved the ball into the box and Reudd Manin was shown a yellow card for his tackle within the 18 yards. Central's Birk Martinsen cut the Terrier lead in half.
St. Francis restored its two-goal advantage in the final two minutes of the first half as Adbella found a streaking Sokol Ymeraj down the middle, who chipped the Central keeper for his third goal of the season.
Despite conceding against in the final 20 minutes of regulation, the Terriers held out for a 3-2 win, improving to 3-1-3 in NEC play and clinching a place in the NEC Tournament. St. Francis sits third in the conference standings, as of the end of play on Oct. 30.
NEXT UP: With NEC Tournament seeding and bragging rights on the line, St. Francis hosts LIU on Thursday, Nov. 3 in the regular season finale. Kick-off is scheduled for 1:00 p.m. and the match will stream live on NEC Front Row.
