New Rochelle, New York - The BMCC men's soccer team was edged 1-0 by Monroe University - Bronx on the road in Region 15 action Thursday afternoon in New Rochelle, New York. The Panthers dropped to 0-1 (1-0 Region XV), while the Express improved to 1-0 (1-0 Region XV).
Both teams had opportunities to open the scoring just a few minutes into the match. Freshman Brandon Leon (New York, New York) was denied on a chance in the fourth minute, and then Panther's freshman goalie El Momar Coundoul (Bronx, New York) followed it up on the backend with a huge stop two minutes later in the sixth minute to keep it 0-0.
BMCC had four more opportunities in the first half to get on the board first in the match, but sophomore Assay Mouhamadou Ndiaye (Dakar, Senegal) was stonewalled in the 23rd minute. Leon couldn't capitalize on two more shots in the 25th and 36th minutes, and freshman Salim Anas (Bronx, New York) in the 37th minute, leaving both teams deadlocked at zero going into the halftime break.
The Panthers outshot the Express 10-8 in the first half, with three coming from Leon.
Leon had another chance to get the Panthers on board in the 45th minute, but Romero turned away his team-leading fourth shot of the match. Both teams traded solid scoring changes throughout the rest of the second half before Monroe University-Bronx was given a golden opportunity to grab the first tally of the match.
Juan Ramirez was rewarded with a penalty shot after BMCC committed a foul in the defensive box. Coundoul would come up huge for the Panthers with a big-time stop in the 74th minute, diving right and blocking the ball from going into the net to keep it scoreless. The Express wouldn't miss the next time as Ramirez cashed in the second time around two seconds later, grabbing the match's first marker to make it 1-0.
BMCC could only muster two shots during the final 15 minutes of the match as the Express hung on for a 1-0 shutout victory. Monroe University-Bronx outshot BMCC 12-6 in the second half and 20-16 overall in the match. The Express also controlled the Corners 8-1.
Coundoul made five saves and took the loss, while classmate Javier Rodriguez (Bronx, New York) played 32 minutes and made four stops. Romero posted a clean sheet with a game-high six saves.
The Panthers will look to bounce back in their home opener next Tuesday, September 10, at 12:30 p.m. in CUNY action against Bronx Community College at Pier 40. For more information, visit the BMCC Men's Soccer Schedule.
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