The Maritime College men's soccer team played its biggest game of the season so far on Wednesday night as they faced off against Mount Saint Mary. The two teams entered the contest first and second in the conference, with just one point separating the teams. With all signs pointing towards a close battle, the Privateers remained a force to be reckoned with at Reinhart Field as they came up with a big 3-0 victory.
The Knights came out of the gate strong as they controlled the tempo of the game by recording the only four shots of the first 12 minutes. The lone Privateers chance came in the fifth minute when
Christopher Tavernese (Garden City, N.Y./Garden City) made a great run at a lazy pass back to the goalie, but was unable to control the ball before the end line.
Head Coach
Daniel Gwyther made four substitutions in the 27th minute, including
Anthony Palazzolo (Huntington Station, N.Y./Walt Whitman) and
Larry Castello (Hauppauge, N.Y./Hauppauge). The decision paid dividends almost immediately as the pair hooked up for a goal just four minutes later to take a 1-0 advantage.
James Roland (Fairfield, Conn./Fairfield Ludlowe) took a corner kick for Maritime and sent the ball all the way past the goal on the end line, which found the foot of Castello who played the ball right into the box. Castello's cross created havoc inside the box and the ball eventually found Palazzolo who put the ball away into the top left corner for a crucial first half goal.
The goal completely shifted momentum of the game and the Privateers high octane offense had found its rhythm again.
Thirteen minutes into the second half, Tavernese took a through ball and got on a breakaway with only the goalie to beat. The Garden City, NY native made a fantastic play to chip the ball over the charging goal and appeared to have put up the second goal for the Privateers. However, a great individual effort from Mount Saint Mary's defender saved the ball just before crossing the line and kept it a one goal game.
It wasn't a one score game for much longer because in the 61st minute,
Anthony Sblendorio (Bay Shore, N.Y./Bay Shore) played a fantastic cross inside the six and forced the Knights defender to try and make a sliding play on the ball. Mount Saint Mary was unable to kick the ball out of the box and ended up kicking it into their own net for an own goal. The heavy pressure applied from Maritime's offense gave them a 2-0 lead and all of the momentum early in the second frame.
Twenty minutes later,
Parker Gallt (Las Vegas, Nev./Plainfield South (Ill.)) iced the game for the Privateers with a goal created by fantastic offense.
Shevaughn Sheriffe (Yonkers, N.Y./Cypress Creek (Fla.)) won the ball around midfield and was able to find an open Gallt to begin the offensive attack. Gallt kept his head up and found Sblendorio making a great run up the left side who dribbled all the way to the box before crossing it back. The cross found Gallt on the right side who easily put the ball away to ice the game at 3-0.
In addition to winning five games in a row, Maritime is also 7-0 at Reinhart Field this season. The Privateers have outscored opponents on the home turf by an incredible 39-2 margin. Maritime is now within one game of tying the single-season wins record for the school and solidified themselves at the top of the conference.
Maritime returns to Reinhart Field on Friday for senior night as they take on the best defensive team in the Skyline in Old Westbury. The Panthers are 1-0-4 in conference play and have only allowed two goals to other Skyline teams. It will be a classic matchup of high powered offense from the Privateers against a very strong defense from Old Westbury. Maritime will honor its seniors pre-game with a quick ceremony before the game kicks off at 7 p.m.
