NEW ROCHELLE, N.Y., October 6, 2021 - A 62nd-minute penalty kick conversion lifted nationally ranked No. 8 Nassau Community College over the No. 4 Monroe Express men's soccer team 2-1 in a competitive NJCAA Division III top-ten showdown on Wednesday afternoon at City Park. The defeat snapped Monroe-Bronx's three-game winning streak dropping them to 6-2 (5-1 Region XV), while Lions sixth straight win improved them to 7-2 (7-0 Region XV).

Fourteen sophomores were honored before the match. The Monroe Express men's soccer program celebrated the careers of Jose Hernandez (Guatemala), Sabitu Issah (Accra, Ghana), Yosef Tamay (Corona, N.Y.), Andres Lora (Buenos Aires, Argentina), Kymron Ashley (Braes River, St. Elizabeth, Jamaica), Abul Chowdhury (Bronx, N.Y.), James Gerbier (Rosedale, N.Y.), Edwin Zuniga Lopez (Bronx, NY), Jean Woobens Zamy (Port Au Prince, Haiti), Bernie Castillo (Santo Domingo, D.R.), Givonchi Walker (Kingston, Jamaica), Aaron Quezada (Chihuahua, Mexico), and Santiago Lopez (Armenia, Colombia).

Both defenses made it difficult on each attack from the get-go, with offensive chances coming at a premium. The Express had a few excellent opportunities early in the first half as Edwin Zuniga Lopez's (Bronx, NY) header off a cross into the box hit the right post in the 13th minute, and Jean Woobens Zamy (Port Au Prince, Haiti) was denied by Nassau goalkeeper Jonathan Villacis on a blast from inside the 18 in the 16th minute. Lopez had another chance in the 24th minute when he weaved through the Lions defense and slid a slow roller just wide of the frame. Despite finishing the first half with a 9-4 advantage in shots, it was the visitors that broke through for the opening tally of the match when Jack Fridman uncorked a 30-foot rocket into the left pocket of the net in the 34th minute to give Nassau Community College a 1-0 lead at halftime.

The Lions applied more pressure in the second half, recording four of the first six shots, including one on goal. A handball was called against the Express in the 62nd minute, with the referee's opinion on the location of his call being the determining factor between a free-kick and a penalty kick opportunity for Nassau Community College. The latter allowed the Lions to be awarded a penalty kick and freshman Sebastian Arboleda took advantage, firing it low to the left to extend the lead to 2-0.  

The Express missed an opportunity to cut the deficit in half in the 69th minute as Juan Henao's (Colombia) left-footed blast from just outside the 18 was punched away and corralled by Villacis. Jose Hernandez (Guatemala) kept Monroe-Bronx alive, turning away a sizzling high shot from Jephte Joseph from inside the 18 in the 82nd minute. After Ulises Gomez (Cali, Colombia) was denied point-blank from outside the six-yard box in the 84th minute, Henao finally got the Express on the board in the 87th minute. He produced his fourth goal of the season, heading an Andres Lora (Buenos Aires, Argentina) corner kick into the low left pocket of the net to cut the deficit to 2-1.

Nassau Community College prevented Monroe-Bronx from establishing a final offensive counterattack keeping the possession in Monroe-Bronx's defensive end to take the match 2-1.

Villacis made a game-high five stops to pick up his fifth victory of the season, while Hernandez made three stops in the loss.

The Express will regroup and close out their season with a two-game road trip starting next Wednesday, October 13, against Regional opponent Rockland Community College in Suffern, New York. The time of the match is still being confirmed, so for more information, visit the Monroe Express Men's Soccer Schedule. 

Notables

• The Express allowed a first-half goal for only the second time this season since their only loss to Harcum College on September 21 on the road. Despite outscoring their opponents 22-2 in the first half, their losses have come on those two markers allowed in the opening half, and Express are 0-2 on the season when allowing the first goal.
• Jose Hernandez (Guatemala) came into the matchup with 39 career saves, which was second all-time in program history, and now has extended that mark to 42 career saves after three on Wednesday afternoon.

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, 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 www.MonroeExpress.com or follow us on social media: Facebook (Monroe Express), Twitter (@MonroeExpress), and Instagram (@MonroeExpress).