NEW ROCHELLE, N.Y. - The Monroe College - Bronx men's soccer team earned an important Region 15 victory over Queensborough Community College, 3-0, at Flowers Park Soccer Field on Saturday, September 23. Monroe advances its Region 15 and overall record to 2-3-1, while Queensborough falls to 2-4-1 in regional contests and the season overall. 

Making his collegiate debut in net for the Express was sophomore Vitor de Oliveira who stopped all three shots on net he faced to earn the shutout victory.

"We played the way we trained," Monroe College - Bronx Interim Head Soccer Coach Jose Hernandez said. "We showed the connections we always practice in training."

Monroe - Bronx tallied its first goal during the 13th minute as sophomore defender James Gallagher took a free kick opportunity for the Express and lined the ball into the net from outside the box, on the right wing, to give the Blue and Gold a 1-0 advantage. 

The Express struck again with just 2:32 left in the opening half. Gallagher once again directed a free kick from the right wing. This time, the ball landed in the box. Sophomore defender Lorenz Utz collected the ball and lined a shot that was stopped by the opposing goalkeeper. However, sophomore midfielder Joel David was right there for the rebound and drilled the ball into the back of the cage to extend Monroe - Bronx's lead to 2-0. Utz was credited with the assist on the tally.

That would be the score after 45 minutes of play.

In the 73rd minute, Monroe added an insurance goal as Utz drilled a free kick from about 25 yards out that was knocked down by Queensborough's rookie goalkeeper Anthony Bardales. However, second-year defender Abdoulaye Soumare was right there deep in the box to take the ball and wedge it inside the net for the first tally of his collegiate career and extending the home team's lead to 3-0. Utz earned his second assist of the contest. 

The Express ended up earning the shutout win, 3-0.

For the afternoon, Monroe - Bronx outshot Queensborough, 14-10, but the Tigers had a slight edge in corner kick opportunities, 8-7.

In net, Bardales made eight saves for Queensborough.

The Express will hit the road on Tuesday for a Region 15 matchup against Dutchess Community College. The match will take place on the campus of Culinary Institute of America, in Hyde Park, N.Y., beginning 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.
 
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