FIGHTING TIGER MEN’S SOCCER OUTSCORES GENESEE CC 5-2

In a game which could have major NJCAA Region III Division III Tournament implications for both programs, the SUNY Cobleskill men’s soccer team outscored visiting nationally number ten ranked Genesee Community College from Batavia, NY on Saturday at the Cobleskill Soccer Complex by a score of 5-2 in regional action. The victory pushes the Fighting Tigers overall record to 10-1 on the season and drops the Cougars to 9-4 on the year.

With the high scoring Cougar offense entering the contest averaging 3.3 goals per game the visitor’s super powered attack put pressure on the Orange & Black throughout the contest. However the combination of the Cobleskill defense led by senior goalkeeper Abdou Seck, Bronx, NY, Dewitt Clinton High School, with eight saves, and senior All-American midfielder candidate Essaha Jallow, Bronx, NY, Dewitt Clinton High School, with three goals, sent the visitors back to Batavia winless.

The Cobleskill defense held Genesee scoreless during the first half while Jallow connected unassisted with 28:59 remaining in the half to give the home team a 1-0 lead. Freshman midfielder David Gardner, Malta, NY, Ballston Spa High School, then gave the Fighting Tigers a 2-0 halftime lead on an assist from freshman forward Lucas Heffron, Lansing, NY, Lansing High School, with 21:32 to play in the stanza.

After Genesee scored two minutes into the second half to close the lead to 2-1, Jallow again gave Cobleskill breathing room this time taking a pass from freshman forward Cedric Bouemboue, Brooklyn, NY, Aviation High School, and making an explosive move in the box to beat the Cougar goalie and give the Fighting Tigers a 3-1 advantage with 32:08 remaining in regulation. The Cougars answered with 26:52 remaining scoring on a penalty kick off a handball infraction which shifted the momentum their way.

Cobleskill then put the match out of reach when Lucas Heffron scored on an assist from senior midfielder Rilwan Salawu, Brooklyn, NY, Franklin D. Roosevelt High School, with 14:50 left in the contest. Essaha Jallow then punctuated the victory with 5:38 left to play by taking a pass form senior midfielder Greg Klopfer, Voorheesville, NY, Voorheesville High School, and making a Pelestyle move to find the back of the Cougars net and electrify the large homecoming weekend crowd.

“We finally broke out of our scoring slump and amazingly it happened against the number ten team in the country,” said Fighting Tiger Head Coach Rob Szmarz. “During the first ten minutes of play it looked like we were in for a long afternoon. Fortunately we were able to keep them off the board thanks in no small part to our incredible insurance policy in the net Abdou Seck.”

The Fighting Tigers will have little time to enjoy their victory as they will next travel to Saranac Lake, NY, to meet North Country Community College on Sunday, September 30th beginning at 3:00 PM as part of a men’s/women’s soccer doubleheader between the two programs.