Auburn, ME – Mikel Soto scored twice, Jeremiah Gomez picked up three assists, and the Central Maine Community College men's soccer team rolled to a 5-1 victory over York County Community College in their first conference game of the season.
The Mustangs got on the board in the 11th minute with a bit of luck. Mitch Cameron received a short corner and whipped a ball in from the left side of the box. George Mbungu attempted to head the ball away from danger, but inadvertently put it past goalkeeper Ryan Royce for a 1-0 CMCC lead.
The Hawks continued to frustrate Central Maine throughout the first half, putting on a great defensive display to block shots or force opportunities just wide of frame. The Mustangs ended the first 45 minutes with 20 shots attempted, but only five on target.
One of those came from Mikel Soto. The midfielder from Madrid, Spain stepped into a pass from Gomez and delivered a left footed shot beyond Royce's reach and into the bottom left corner of the net. It was the first career goal for Soto to make it 2-0 in the 26th minute.
It stayed that way until the second half. For the third straight game, a Domingues brother scored within five minutes of the restart. This time it was Igor Domingues getting on the board. Gomez slid a pass towards the top of the box, and the junior out of Lewiston High School slotted it inside the far post for a 3-0 lead.
Just five minutes later it was Ivan Domingues' turn to join in the on the scoring fun. He and Gomez exchanged passes on the edge of the area before turning and blasting a right footed shot into the top of the net. It was the 42nd goal of Ivan's career and his third straight game with a tally.
York County would continue to battle and look for opportunities on the counter attack. Their best chances came on set pieces, and it was a free kick that set up their goal.
In the 80th minute, James Melino served a ball into the penalty area. Goalkeeper Cody Cleaveland came to punch it away, but saw the ball deflect off a scrum of players at the top of the box. Arthur Bahuze was the beneficiary, with the defender knocking it home with the outside of his right foot to cue the Hawks celebrating their first YSCC goal in program history.
Head coach Dalton Wing gave credit to YCCC for the way they battled throughout the night. "In the first year it can be hard to recruit, but they have brought in some good players," said Wing. "They're going to be a good program and a tough team to beat."
Soto would wrap things in the 85th minute with his second of the contest. Exaucee Namwira bent a well struck corner kick into the mixer. Soto got his head to it to nod it down past Royce for a 5-1 lead. It was a just reward for Soto who has filled in at many different positions this season, as the Mustangs have battled injuries.
"I always like to play as a midfielder, but I can also play in different positions," Soto said. "I can play wherever."
CMCC next embarks on three games in three days, starting on Saturday, September 14th when the Mustangs travel to Hampshire for another YSCC match-up. The team then faces Berkeley on Sunday before hosting Thomas College on Monday night.
