CALDWELL, N.J. - Three unanswered goals in the second half allowed Dowling College to defeat the Caldwell College men's soccer team, 3-1 in a non-conference game Thursday afternoon at Caldwell Field. The loss ends a four-game winning streak for the Cougars, who drop to 6-4 on the season. The Golden Lions win their second straight to improve to 5-2.
The Cougars got on the scoreboard first in the 55th minute, when a long throw by sophomore midfielder Eirik Utheim (Trondheim, Norway/KVT), pictured, found senior forward Chad Bennett (Kingston, Jamaica/Campion) in front of the goal. Bennett poked the ball into the goal for his team-leading sixth goal of the season. The lead didn't last long, as Dowling scored just 1:09 later on a nearly-identical play. Samba Traore knocked home a long throw by Michael Nicolini to tie the game at 1-1. In the 68th minute, Steven Schneider scored what proved to be the game-winner when he collected a loose ball in the Cougars' penalty area and beat senior goalkeeper John Plaugic (Kearny, NJ/Kearny) for a 2-1 lead. Lamine Traore finished a centering pass from Moussa Keita in the 85th minute to put the game out of reach.
Plaugic finished the game with two saves, while Dowling goalkeeper Nemanja Veljovic made one on a 35-yard blast by Bennett off a free kick. The game was physical, as the teams combined for 43 fouls and eight yellow cards.
The Cougars host Dominican College on Tuesday, Sept. 30 in a Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference match at Caldwell Field. The game is set to start at 4:00 p.m.
CC - 0 1 - 1
DC - 0 3 - 3
Scoring Summary: 1. CC - Chad Bennett 6 (Eirik Utheim), 54:08. 2. DC - Samba Traore 1 (Michael Nicolini), 55:17. 3. DC - Steven Schneider 4 (unassisted), 67:34. 4. Lamine Traore 3 (Moussa Keita), 84:41.
Shots: CC - 8; DC - 11
Saves: CC - John Plaugic 2; DC - Nemanja Veljovic 1
Corners: CC - 5; DC - 0
Fouls: CC - 12; DC - 31
Offsides: CC - 3; DC - 4
Cautions: CC - J. Costa (20:07), Utheim (30:26), Walters (50:27), Sartorio (68:48), Bench (69:53); DC - Green (72:19), Bench (72:57), Miller (88:38)
