THROGGS NECK, N.Y. – For the third consecutive season, the Maritime Men's Soccer Team battled the Lehman Lightning to a one-goal difference. After two-straight one-goal wins by the Privateers, it was the Lightning to come out on top by a 1-0 score on Reinhart Field.
 
Senior Kevin Ferreira (Centereach, N.Y./St. John the Baptist) led the Privateers with three shots, while junior Harry Colucci (Port Jefferson, N.Y./Earl L. Vandenmeulen), sophomore Parker Gallt (Plainfield, Ill./Plainfield South), and freshman Thomas Langkafel (Carmel, N.Y./Carmel) each recorded a pair of shots on the night.
 
In goal, rookie Michael Rodriguez (Wappingers Falls, N.Y./Roy C. Ketcham) made the start fresh off of his Skyline Conference Rookie of the Week selection and recorded four saves while allowing just the one Lightning tally.
 
Colucci took the first shot for the Privateers and hooked his shot just wide of the post, as he beat the Lehman goalkeeper. Lehman came down the field several minutes later and scored a header goal off of a corner kick to take the 1-0 advantage.
 
In the 34th minute, Langkafel had a shot ring off the goal post as he tried to sneak the ball between the post and the goalkeeper. As the game progressed, Ferreira missed another chance in the 41st minute, but the Lightning goalkeeper made the diving save.
 
Colucci and freshman Justin Forrest (Lusby, Md./Patuxent) had back-to-back shots as Colucci took a hard shot that came out into the open, but Forrest was unable to get it past the goalkeeper as the Privateers were still held scoreless.
 
Junior Matt Smith (Brightwaters, N.Y./Bay Shore) took a header shot off of a corner kick that had beaten the goalkeeper, but a defensive player for the Lightning stopped the ball from tying to game and cleared it aside. The Privateers were only able to muster a few more chances through the waning minutes as the Lightning held on for the one-goal win.
 
Final stats saw Maritime have a one-shot advantage at 13-12 on the evening, while corner kicks were even at four. The Privateers were called offsides twice, while the Lightning were whistled ahead of the play just once on the match.
 
Maritime (3-3-0) will face a tough road test, when the team opens up Skyline Conference play on Saturday at the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy for a 1 p.m. kick at Brooks Stadium.
 
Lehman (2-2-1) will also open up league play with their CUNYAC opener coming on Saturday afternoon at 2:30 p.m., when the Lighting travel to take on the Brooklyn Bulldogs.