New York, New York – The scorching Thursday afternoon temperatures didn't faze the BMCC Men's Soccer team as they dominated from start to finish with a 2-0 shutout over Region 15 opponent Monroe-Bronx at Pier 40. The Panthers are off to their best start in five seasons and defeated the Express for the first time since 2017, moving to 2-0 (1-0 Region XV) with the victory. Monroe-Bronx dropped to 0-2 (0-2 Region XV) with the defeat.
 
Both teams felt each other out for the first seven and half minutes of the first half before the Panthers got two excellent chances to open the scoring in the eighth minute. Freshman Mamadou Diallo (Conakry, Guinea) had a golden opportunity, but Krit Raj Maharjan made a sliding on his rebound opportunity before also denying sophomore Carlos Auquilla (New York, New York) inside the box to keep it scoreless.
 
BMCC finally broke through with the game's first goal in the 28th minute as sophomore Ademola Opesanwo (Lagos, Nigeria) was taken down inside the 18 and awarded a penalty shot. Opesanwo wasted no time blasting the ball into the top left pocket of the net to give BMCC the 1-0 lead.
 
After notching his team-leading third goal and second game-winner, Opesanwo helped the Panthers grab some insurance in the 37th minute, sending a gorgeous corner kick on the head of freshman Nanga Adam Coulibaly (Cote D'Ivoire, Ivory Coast) who put it by Maharjan to make it 2-0 Panthers. The result would stay the same going into halftime, with the Panthers heading into the break up 2-0.
 
BMCC dominated the shots in the first half, holding the Express to one and outshooting them 15-1 and 26-5 overall.
 
The second half was more of the same, with Auquilla coming close to grabbing a third goal when his blast from outside the 18 just went over the crossbar. The Express's best chance to cut the lead to one would come in the 66th minute, but Bro Khwezi Gema's right-footed blast sailed inches above the crossbar, and the Panthers would control the game from their en route to a 2-0 shutout victory.
 
Sophomore Abdul Mumin Seidu (Bronx, New York) got his victory on the season and first shutout of the year, while Maharan made a game-high eight saves and took the loss.
 
The Panther's defense has been outstanding through the first two matches, allowing eight shots and outshooting their opponents overall 56-8.
 
BMCC will look to remain perfect for the first time since 2017 as they head on the road for their first CUNYAC matchup against Bronx Community College next Tuesday, September 12, at 4 p.m. at Ohio Field in the Bronx. For more information, visit the BMCC Men's Soccer Schedule.  

Notables -
- Sophomore Ademola Opesanwo (Lagos, Nigeria) has a team-high three goals, two assists, and eight points. He has halved his point total from a season ago, as he finished second on the team with 16 points.
- The Panthers have had four different goalscorers in their first two victories, allowed two shots on goal, and denied the Express of any yesterday.
 

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