New Rochelle, N.Y., October 27, 2021 – The eighth-ranked and defending Region 15 Champion Monroe Express men's soccer team's record-breaking season came to a heartbreaking end on a late 88th-minute goal against Suffolk C.C., 2-1, in the Region 15 semifinals on Wednesday afternoon at City Park. With the win, the Sharks move on the Region 15 Championship on Saturday and improve to 11-4 on the season, while the Express finish the year at 9-3.
The Express jumped out to an early lead in the sixth minute when Sabitu Issah (Accra, Ghana) sent a beautiful cross into the Penalty area that James Gerbier (Rosedale, N.Y.) finished off on a gorgeous header to put the Express in front 1-0. The goal was Gerbier's team-leading 10th on the season.
The Rosedale, New York native, came inches away from extending Monroe-Bronx's, but his 30-yard blast just sailed over the crossbar. After being held without a shot for the first 18 minutes, Suffolk recorded the equalizer on their first of the match in the 19th minute. Jeferson Saravia Garcia took advantage of a misplayed through ball by the Express defense off on a counterattack, driving to the net and burying his first tally of the year to tie it up at 1.
The Express had two more scoring chances as Gerbier's low rolling line drive outside the 18 and Andres Lora's (Buenos Aires, Argentina) header from just outside the six-yard box in the 24th minute and 37th minute were both denied by Suffolk goalkeeper Anthony Molina. Both teams finished went into halftime tied at 1, with the Express holding a 10-4 advantage in shots while each squad was granted five corner kicks apiece.
The second half was even between both squads, with many of the scoring chances coming on free kicks. a premium. After an Issah free-kick from 25-yards out was gobbled up by Molina at the right post in the 57th minute, Jake DePaoli's 18-yarder was punched aside by Jose Hernandez in the 60th minute just enough to allow the rebound shot by Emmanuel Kwansah to go over the net. Ulises Gomez (Cali, Colombia) created some space in the 64th minute and just missed on a 20-yard sizzler that just inched over the crossbar before Jose Hernandez (Guatemala) denied Garcia in the 73rd minute. Kymron Ashley (Braes River, St. Elizabeth, Jamaica) also had a chance to put the Express back in front in the 76th minute, but his header off of a cross just missed the top left corner of the net.
After a couple of near-misses, Suffolk finally cashed in on their final set play of the afternoon in the 88th minute as DePaoli sent a 30-yard rainbow feed into the goal box that careened onto the foot of Garcia, and he turned around and blasted it into the net for the go-ahead tally to make it 2-1.
The Express could never establish another offensive attack in the match's final minutes, as Suffolk completed a 2-1 come from behind victory.
Molina made five stops to pick up the victory in net for the Sharks while Hernandez denied three shots in the loss.
The Express outshot the Sharks 16-9, with six of them on goal, and held an edge in corner kicks 7-5.
ABOUT THE ATHLETIC PROGRAM AT MONROE COLLEGE
The athletic program at Monroe College encompasses a total of 36 teams competing across nine sports. There are 19 varsity and junior varsity programs, as well as club men's and women's rugby, the Monroe College marching band, and the newly added esports program, competing on the New Rochelle campus as the Mustangs (NJCAA Division I). The Monroe Express, based out of the Bronx campus, has 17 teams competing at the NJCAA Division III level.
For more information about the Monroe Express, please visit us at MonroeExpress.com or follow us on social media: Facebook (Monroe Express), Twitter (@MonroeExpress), and Instagram (@MonroeExpress).
