Firebirds Force Tie Against Staten Island; Celebrates Eleven Seniors

LOUDOUN COUNTY, VA- The University of the District of Columbia's men's soccer team played to a 1-1 tie against the College of Staten Island in their last home game of the season. The Firebirds moved to 6-7-2, 1-5-1 ECC and the Dolphins moved to 4-9-2, 2-2-2 ECC.

Senior midfielder, Thomas Cecil scored the game tying goal for the Firebirds with Santiago Gordillo Martinez getting the assist. Goalkeepers, Simon Birnstad and Javier Abadia Torres split the game with Birnstad stopping four shots in the first half, and Torres making five saves in the second. 

The Dolphins scored in the 21st minute to get a 1-0 lead on the Firebirds. The game remained 1-0 in favor of the visitors for the rest of the half, and a chunk of the second half, despite very close attempts by UDC- eight of which were denied by goalkeeper Amari Thompson. 

It wasn't until the 78th minute that the Firebirds were able to level the score, with Cecil blasting a pass from Martinez straight past the keeper and into the back of the net. 

The Firebirds also celebrated 11 seniors, the biggest graduating class the program has had under Coach Thompson. They celebrated, Kenec Elvir, Javier Abadia Torres, Simon Birnstad, Ivan Meza-Baez, Diego Meza- Baez, David Box, Samuel Nicolodi, Eduardo Bugay, Jorge Silva, Thomas Cecil and Jake Bedforth. 

UDC (6-7-2, 1-5-1 ECC) will head to N.Y. to face off against Daemen College on Saturday in their last home game of the season. Tip-off is set for 1:30 PM.