Firebirds Defeated, 4-0 by League-Leading Molloy
| Final | 1 | 2 | T | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Molloy (8-2, 5-0 ECC) | 1 | 3 | 4 |
|
Dist. Columbia (3-9-1, 3-2-1) | 0 | 0 | 0 |
BOYDS, MD – The University of the District of Columbia men's soccer team was defeated, 4-0 by the current top team in the East Coast Conference, Molloy College, on a beautiful fall afternoon at Maryland SoccerPlex.
The Firebirds (3-9-1) fell to 3-2-1 in league play with today's loss, while Molloy, the No. 8 ranked team in the NSCAA East Region poll, won its 7th straight game to stay unbeaten in the ECC at 5-0 and 8-2 overall.
UDC had two quality scoring chances within the first seven minutes of regulation, but shots by Kevin Ortez and Christopher Moke both went wide left. Molloy went on to take the game's next three shots and scored the game's first goal on the 3rd of those attempts – a direct kick from just outside the penalty box by Steven Jimenez in the 19th minute.
After the Lions pounced first, UDC went back on the attack with Liam Haycock firing three consecutive shots in a span of less than a minute. The first was blocked, and the next two were both saved by Molloy goalkeeper Raul Bonilla. The Firebirds could not muster another shot attempt for the remaining 25 minutes of the first half, but UDC goalkeeper stopped the 2nd shot attempt he faced to keep it a 1-0 game at halftime.
Less than four minutes into the second half, Adam Carnwath gave Molloy its insurance goal and put the Lions up 2-0 by blasting a shot from 25 yards out past Alvarez. Carnwath later assisted on a goal by Michael Jimenez in the 61st minute and Mosiah Whyte scored off of an assist by Steven Jimenez in the 71st minute to give the visitors a final tally of four goals.
UDC was out-shot 12-6 in the second half and 20-11 for the game, and whistled for 20 fouls vs. Molloy's 15. Alvarez made three saves and allowed three goals in 61 minutes of work, and Joao Brusamolin relieved him for the final 29 minutes and allowed one goal on the only shot he faced.
Molloy's Bonilla, who tops the ECC in save percentage (.900) and goals against average (.46), earned his league-leading 5th shutout of the season with five total saves.
The Firebirds have a week off before their next game where they will host league foe Queens College on Wednesday, October 19th for their season home finale. The Firebirds will honor three graduating seniors as part of a Senior Day celebration before the game which kicks off at 3 p.m.