BRONX – The Monroe College - Bronx men's soccer team battled Bronx Community College to a 2-2 draw, in Region 15 action at Ohio Field, on Tuesday, September 19. 
 
The Express (1-2-1, 1-2-1 Region 15) scored the match's first two goals during the opening half, but the Broncos (0-3-1, 0-3-1 Region 15) produced the next two tallies during the final 23:12 of the game to earn the tie.
 
Bronx had the advantage in shots, 24-14, but Monroe doubled the opposition in corner kick opportunities, 6-3.
 
In the opening half, the Blue and Gold struck first as there was a scramble in the box off a free kick. Sophomore midfielder Joel David found rookie forward Allex Symister who buried the ball into the net for the first goal of his collegiate career to put Monroe up 1-0 during the 15th minute. 
 
Just over 13 minutes later, sophomore defender James Gallagher took a corner kick opportunity for Monroe – Bronx and lined the ball inside the box. The soaring ball was then headed into the net by second-year defender Lorenz Utz to pad the Express' lead to 2-0. It was Utz's fourth goal in as many matches played this season.
 
Bronx had multiple chances to score its first goal of the match prior to the end of the opening half, but two shots on target were denied by freshman goalkeeper Krit Raj Maharjan and a third shot sailed high. Both teams went into the intermission with Monroe – Bronx up 2-0.
 
The Broncos came out firing in the second half, launching seven shots during the first 15:42 of the stanza. Bronx finally cashed in during the 67th minute as rookie forward Moises Gonzalez collected the ball off a free kick from the right wing and made a pass inside the box to freshman midfielder Abdul Mohammed who drilled the ball into the back of the cage to slice Monroe's lead in half, at 2-1, with 23:12 left to play in the contest. 
 
Each team had multiple opportunities to score the next goal. Monroe's defense blocked three shots by Bronx Community College in a span of 9:05. Monroe had a golden opportunity to regain its two-goal cushion, but freshman midfielder Vernon Owusu Ansah's shot was denied by first-year goalkeeper Edwin Martinez.
 
A critical play occurred with 3:14 left to play. Monroe committed a hand-ball foul which awarded a penalty kick opportunity for the Broncos. Rookie midfielder Ashraf Abubakar took advantage by lining the ball past a diving Maharjan to even the match up at two goals apiece with just over three minutes remaining. 
 
Neither team produced a shot the rest of the way and the Region 15 match ended in a 2-2 tie.
 
For the Express, Maharjan made five saves, while Martinez turned aside four shots for the Broncos. 
 
Monroe will return home on Thursday, September 21, for a big test as the Express will battle nationally ranked No. 6 Suffolk County Community College in a Region 15 matchup. The action at Flowers Park Soccer Field will begin at 4:00 p.m.

ABOUT THE ATHLETIC PROGRAM AT MONROE COLLEGE
The athletic program at Monroe College encompasses a total of 31 teams competing across nine sports. There are 21 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 and men's volleyball programs, competing on the New Rochelle campus as the Mustangs (NJCAA Division I). The Monroe Express, based out of the Bronx campus, has seven 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/X (@MonroeExpress), Instagram (@MonroeExpress), and Threads (@MonroeExpress).