Opportunistic Rams get past NYU-Poly
Jays outshoot 1st place Farmingdale but can't find the net in 2-0 loss
Brooklyn, NY - The Farmingdale men's soccer team remained in first place after Saturday night's Skyline Conference matchup with the Blue Jays — barely. The Rams got out of Aviator Sports Complex with the 2-0 victory, as they capitalized on an early defensive miscue in the 10th minute and put the game away on an own goal, off a corner kick in the 78th minute.
The game started off with an even, back and forth battle, as neither team tested the other's keeper. But in the 10th minute Farmingdale midfielder Joe Brantmyer was able to hit forward Ryan Paul on a through ball to the right side. The NYU-Poly defense, which played nearly perfect on the night, made one mistake letting Paul free and he made them pay, burying a shot into the net past senior keeper Rob Petri (St Louis, MO / St Johns Vianney).
Petri, who made is return to the lineup after missing the first 10 matches with an ACL injury, was solid in goal, including a diving save to his right in the 23rd minute. That save ignited an offensive fuse in the Jays as the remainder of the half they created several dangerous scoring chances. But, Rams keeper Patrick Gubbins matched Petri with two clutch saves of his own, one each on Adam Lakawicz (Butler, NJ / Butler HS )and then the ensuing rebound shot by Allen Rohr (Northridge, CA / Granada Hills Charter).
In the second half NYU-Poly continued its effort to tie the game and Lakawicz nearly did so in the 66th minute as he was all alone on the left side from about 8 yards out. However, his right footed half-volley was off target. Sophomore Joe Gabor (Warwick, NY / Warwick HS) followed with a quality take on the goal from 20 yards out, and senior Diego Schwartz (Rego Park, NY / Forrest Hills HS) hit a bullet from the 18, but a Ram defender blocked the shot away from goal in the 73rd minute.
Soon after Paul broke free on a breakaway, but Gabor tackled the ball, eventually giving up the corner kick. Brantmeyer quickly took the kick before the Jays could set up and drove a knee high cross straight across the 6-yard box. The attempt to clear it mishit and went into the back side net.
NYU-Poly out shot Farmingdale 11-9, while the Rams led 3-2 from the corner. Gubbins stopped six shots, while Petri turned away five attempts. NYU-Poly (5-6, Skyline 1-1) is at Old Westbury on Tuesday at 4:00pm.
