FIGHTING TIGER MEN’S SOCCER SHOOTS DOWN MVCC HAWKS 3-0

It was projected to be a knockdown drag-out battle between two nationally ranked NJCAA men’s soccer programs as the fourteenth ranked Hawks of Mohawk Valley Community College met the eighteenth ranked Fighting Tigers of SUNY Cobleskill at the Cobleskill Soccer Complex yesterday in a Mountain Valley Conference showdown. But the Fighting Tigers had other ideas as they jumped out to a 1-0 lead eight minutes into the contest then tallying twice in the second half to easily outdistance the visitors by a score of 3-0. With the win Cobleskill pushes their overall record to 7-1 on season with a 4-1 record in conference action.

“This was the first time we’ve beaten Mohawk Valley since I’ve been coaching here and to beat a perennial power like them today is a big step for our program and it feels good,” said a jubilant Fighting Tiger Head Coach Rob Szmarz. “I thought the key to the game was our four midfielders who scored three goals and had five assists. They had a significant impact on the game because of their ability to create their own space on the field which they were able to use to create advantages they eventually capitalized on. This is also an important victory because it gives us added momentum and confidence going into the Tompkins-Cortland game on Wednesday.”
 
Freshman midfielder Greg Klopfer, Voorheesville, NY, Voorheesville High School, scored the eventual game winning goal and added an assist in the contest continuing his outstanding rookie season. Also entering the scoring column for the Fighting Tigers was senior midfielder Gilbert Francillon, Brooklyn, NY, Midwood High School, who scored a goal to go with an assist and freshman midfielder Essaha Jallow, Bronx, NY, Dewitt Clinton High School, who closed the days scoring tallying his goal with 13:45 remaining. Freshman midfielder Rilwan Salawu, Brooklyn, NY, Franklin D. Roosevelt High School, notched three assists on the afternoon while freshman forward Jamey Crumb, McGraw, NY, McGraw High School, added an assist in the contest.

Freshman goalkeeper Abdou Seck, Bronx, NY, posted his fourth shutout of the season making six saves and directing the Fighting Tiger backline effectively throughout the contest. Cobleskill limited the powerful Hawk attack to 10 shots on goal in the contest.

Cobleskill will get little time to enjoy the victory as the Fighting Tigers next play host to the Cougars of Tompkins-Cortland Community College at the Cobleskill Soccer Complex on Wednesday September 27th beginning at 4:00 PM. The Cougars are currently ranked fifteenth in the current NJCAA Division III National Poll. 

TIGER NOTES: The Fighting Tiger victory gives them sole possession of second place in the Mountain Valley Conference behind Herkimer Community College with only one league game to play. The Cobleskill defense has allowed only seven goals in eight games this season for a goal-against average of .875 per game on the season to date.