Flushing, New York - Sophomore El Hadji Ady Gaye (Dakar, Senegal) strolled into the penalty area cool as a cucumber and unfazed on a soggy night in Flushing, New York, with the opportunity of delivering the Borough of Manhattan Community College their 13th CUNYAC Championship in program history. He had been in this position before in the 2019 title game when he assisted on a game-winning goal that gave the Panthers the conference title two seasons ago. However, this time, his left foot was needed again in the first CUNY Athletic Conference Community College Men's Soccer Championship Game, which was decided by penalty kicks since 2003 and just for the third time in the conference's history.

He had confidently stepped into his opportunity knowing it was going into the back of the net, lifting the Borough of Manhattan Community College, men's soccer team over Queensborough Community College in a thrilling 2022 CUNYAC CC Men's Soccer Title. The Panthers clinched their 13th overall conference championship improving to 7-6-1, while the Tigers fell to 6-4-1.

Ady Gaye was named the 2022 CUNYAC CC Men's Soccer Championship MVP after his two-goal performance and team-best third multi-goal game. He is the second straight Panther to record a multi-goal game in the Championship game after Seydou Diallo recorded a hat-trick in BMCC's 5-4 victory in the 2019 Championship game.

The men's soccer program faced a ton of adversity during the 2022 season, and after battling through a slew of injuries, head coach Modou Seck was proud of his boy's grit.

"It was a very good game against a very good team," said Seck. "It was a tough game, but we were able to come back, stay focused, and take it home."

In the 11th meeting between both squads in the conference championship, timely scoring would be the narrative. QCC nearly got on the board first in the third minute, but freshman Carlos Auquilla (New York, New York) made a sliding defensive save with his left leg on a John Pavana's shot off of a rebound, keeping it scoreless. BMCC was able to open the scoring in the 15th minute when Ady Gaye banged home a rebound off of a corner kick from Bodrul Alam (Bronx, New York) to make it 1-0, and that stood between both teams after the first 45 minutes. The Tigers outshot the Panthers 8-4 in the first half. 

Neither team's offense was affected by the heavy rain in the second half as the Tigers evened it up at one in the 60th minute courtesy of the 2021 CUNYAC Community College Men's Soccer Championship Most Valuable Player John Pavana. Freshman goalie Abdul Mumin Seidu (Bronx, New York) had trouble handling a slippery ball, and Pavana pounced on the ball in the box and bounced it over his outstretched arms for the equalizer. Queensborough would mirror events from the previous meeting this season, rallying to take the lead 2-1 in the 68th minute when a cross into the box from the left side careened off Seidu's arm onto the foot of Anthony Gallardo, who blasted it home giving the Tigers their first lead.

The Panthers responded a minute later to tie it at two in the 69th minute when Alam bent the ball on a free kick into a scramble in the box where Ady Gaye was able to get his head on it and put it into the low right pocket.

Both squads had opportunities in the final 20 minutes but couldn't cash in, sending the game into overtime. The Panthers took over in the overtime period dominating the scoring chances. They nearly ended it in the second extra session when Erick Molina Bonilla stopped Tyreece Parboosingh's (Bronx, New York) blast to force penalty kicks with the game tied at two at 100 minutes of play.

BMCC converted on its first two penalty kick attempts courtesy of freshmen Alam and Ademola Opesanwo (Bronx, New York). Seidu denied Pavana on the Tiger's first opportunity making a diving stop to his right, then Justin Chimborazo rolled one wide left. The Panthers would bury their final two penalty kick attempts nailing all four they took, with Ady Gaye providing the game-clincher to secure the victory for the Panthers.

Seidu recorded his second straight double-digit save game and third overall, making 13 stops over 100 minutes of play, while Bonilla registered nine saves in the match.

BMCC will look to carry this momentum into the Region 15 quarterfinals this Saturday, October 20th, at 1 p.m. against Westchester Community College in Valhalla, New York. For more information, head to the BMCC Men's Soccer Schedule Page. 
 

ABOUT THE ATHLETIC PROGRAM AT BOROUGH OF MANHATTAN COMMUNITY COLLEGE
The athletic program at Borough of Manhattan Community College encompasses a total of nine varsity teams competing at the NJCAA Division III level. For the latest news on the Panthers, please visit us at https://bmccathletics.com - The official site of BMCC Athletics. Follow the Panthers on Instagram (@bmcc_athletics) and Twitter (@BMCCAthletics), and Like Us on Facebook (BMCC Athletics).