Strong second half not enough for Jays

Brooklyn, NY -  In a match that was about as even as a soccer match could be, it was one moment, one mistake by NYU-Poly that led to a 1-0 victory for St. Joseph's. With the win, the Golden Eagles remained undefeated in the Skyline Conference (5-0), while Poly falls to fifth (1-3-1).

The Jays had the first two scoring opportunities,as sophomore Adam Lakawicz's (Butler, NJ / Butler HS) left footed strike from 20 yards hit the upper left cross bar in the 27th minute, then in the 37th minute sophomore Joe Gabor's (Warwick, NY / Warwick HS) free kick from 40 yards out found freshmen Nick Michalczewski's (Miami, FL / Chaminade Madonna) head inside the six, but his strike went over the crossbar.

In the 43rd minute, an NYU-Poly breakaway down the side was broken up and the Golden Eagles countered down the left side. John Dettori beat two Jays on the far left side of the 18 and sent a cross to the back side, where Stephan Zaech buried his shot past Jay keeper Rob Petri (St. Louis, MO / St John's Vianney).  Both keepers would come up big throughout the match as St Joseph's keeper Michael Dougherty and Petri each made six saves.

In the second half, Dougherty turned away a point blank half volley off the foot of freshmen midfielder Omar Guerrero (Austin, TX / Stephen F Austin HS) and late in the game, it was Dougherty's wall that took a rocket off the foot of Gabor's 20 yard free kick. On the other end, Petri matched the effort with two clutch saves to keep the Jays in the match late, including a fingertip deflection, on a one-on-one in the 88th minute, that hit the post and then came back to Petri, who pounced on the loose ball just before a pair of St. Joseph's forwards got to it.

Both teams had seven shots on goal and five attempts from the corner. The Jays return to action Saturday with a pivotal Skyline Conference match at Mount Saint Mary at 12:00 noon.