Men’s Soccer Slays Knights 7-0

Men’s Soccer Slays Knights 7-0

Auburn, ME – The CMCC men's soccer game scored three times in the first five minutes and coasted to a 7-0 win over Vermont State University-Randolph in YSCC action on Saturday afternoon. The Mustangs voluntarily fielded a nine-man lineup to match the nine available players for the Knights. The game was called early after 70 minutes with injuries taking the visitors below the minimum required players to continue.

Seven different goal scorers put their names on the stat sheet, with two first-year players recording their first collegiate tally. Cody Cleaveland and Arnaud Nyagasaza split the game in net.

Central Maine set the tone in the very first minute. Jeremiah Gomez hammered a shot against the crossbar after just 35 seconds. Mikel Soto pounced on the rebound and smacked a shot high inside the near post for a 1-0 lead in the first minute.

Ivan Domingues then latched onto a turnover in midfield. After dribbling one vs. three through the defense, the junior from Lewiston rolled a shot into the bottom corner to make it 2-0. It was the All-American's 13th goal of the season.

It was 3-0 in the fifth minute. Gomez raced past the defense to receive a through ball in the box, rounded the onrushing goalkeeper, and placed a shot over the sliding defender.

The Mustangs spent much of the first half keeping possession and moving the ball around the field. The team did add one more before halftime with the second platoon on the field. Stephan Samba sent Justin Violette through on goal in the 33rd minute. The Lisbon High School product held his nerve while one-on-one against goalkeeper Shane Mapes, placing his shot low into the corner for his second goal of the season.

CMCC went with a revamped lineup in the second half, giving several players a chance to play in different positions. Mitch Cameron and Massimo Di Pilato took advantage to score their first collegiate goals.

Cameron produced a nice individual effort, intercepting a pass with his chest near the halfway line, shrugging off a defender's challenge, racing into the box and around the goalkeeper, and finally dribbling the ball into the back of the net. The tally from the Knutsford Academy graduate made it 5-0 in the 49th minute.

Less than 60 seconds later another international member of the team made it 6-0. Cameron shared the wealth this time setting up Di Pilato with a low cross to the near post. The Montreal, QC native showed a finishing touch not always expected of a defender, finding the back of the net from a tight angle.

The trend of goal scorer turning provider continued in the 56th minute when Matty Waters rounded out the scoring. Di Pilato reached the end line and chipped a cross back towards the six-yard box for the fullback from Knutsford, England. Waters guided his header past the diving Mapes from point blank range for the 7-0 lead.

The match would not reach the full 90 minutes. Defender Ben Brown picked up an injury in the second half and had to come off, and with several other players nursing knocks and fatigue, coach Dalton Wing agreed to make the game official at the 70 minute mark.

Mapes finished the match with seven saves and did make several terrific stops denying both Igor Domingues and Tiro Nong on several occasions. The Mustangs remain perfect in YSCC play at 4-0-0, and have outscored conference opposition by a 28-2 margin.

Central Maine rounds out the home portion of its regular season schedule on Tuesday when the Mustangs host the UMaine-Augusta Moose for their senior night game. Kick-off is scheduled for 6:00 pm.

Three Lions
November 1, 2024 Three Lions