- Captain Robert Cavener earned All-Region honors in 2009.
By Christopher Boulay
The CCSU men’s soccer team looked strong in two games this week, first defeating Monroe College 1-0 Wednesday night, then overpowering Dowling College 2-1 on Saturday at Arute Field.
The team improved to 2-0 on the spring season, taking out both opponents with little issue.
Captain Robert Cavener is pleased with the team’s strong start, despite the lack of scoring in both matches.
“Great start to the spring season,” Cavener said. “I think that we have a squad of players who are willing to come in and work wherever they’re put.”
Dowling College is a Division II school, which won the NCAA Division II title in 2006, and also were finalists in 2008.
Raphael Guimaraes opened up the scoring for the Blue Devils in the first half with a beautiful 20-yard shot into the top corner.
“We created a lot of chances,” Coach Shaun Green said. “I was happy with our defensive performances overall. Two wins, bang-on plan.”
The Golden Lions tied the score after Jared Spieker took a Dowling player down in the box, setting up a successful penalty by Stefan Draskovic.
Eduardo Ortiz scored after Joseph Laryea’s kick was blocked and Ortiz sent the ball into the net.
CCSU dominated possession throughout the game, and other than Draskovic’s penalty, the Blue Devils defense did not make many mistakes.
Green said, “I told the lads that this game was a team building exercise, and we came off the field a better team than when we started.”
In the opening game, Ortiz scored the only goal for the Blue Devils against Monroe in the 17th minute. Ortiz knocked in Joel Diamand’s rebound for his first goal of the spring.Green praised the work of the midfield, namely Cavener’s solid play.
“I thought we controlled the ball very well,” Green said. “Cavener was outstanding as well. He looked like a professional player with amateurs.”
Monroe College, a junior college from New York, did not have many opportunities and did not pose much of a threat to either of the Blue Devils keepers, Anthony Occhialini and James Perkins.
“I was very pleased to get the shutout,” Green said. “Defense is our number one concern right now, and I think that we had a big confidence boost for both of our young keepers.”
The Mustangs best shot to bring the score level was late in the match when Richmond Adom entered the box one-on-one with Occhialini, but Occhialini made the difficult save to seal Monroe’s fate.
“It’s the first game of the spring season. We haven’t played in six months,” Green said. “I am happy with the result, we got everyone on the field, everyone played, and good crowd here for a Wednesday night. It’s good to see soccer on campus with a good crowd and good support there.”
CCSU plays two games this week. On Friday they play the Western Massachusetts Pioneers, a United Soccer League Premier Development League club in Burlington at 7 p.m. On Sunday the team will play Yale University at 10 a.m. in New Haven.
