Oct23

ESU Men's Soccer vs. Dowling

EAST STROUDSBURG - The 18^th ranked East Stroudsburg University men's soccer team scored three first half goals, including two in the first three minutes, and held off a late second half rally by No. 9 Dowling College en route to a 3-2 victory, Saturday at Eiler-Martin Stadium. The Warriors improved to 15-2, while Dowling dropped to 12-4-1.

Pat Stanco extended his goal-scoring streak to 10 consecutive games by opening the scoring with an early goal off a rebound at the 1:59 mark. Erik Buksa drilled a shot which Dowling keeper Mervin Shade deflected. Stanco was all alone to put the carom away, giving ESU an early 1-0 lead.

Less than a minute later, the Warriors capitalized on a breakaway as Ahmet Kose took a pass from Jorge Chapoy and beat Shade with a shot into the lower right corner of the net.

Midfielder Karl Nusshag finished off the first half scoring at the 22:10 mark after taking a cross-field pass from Tony Wilson. Nusshag controlled the ball on the left side of the field after a battle with a Dowling defender and blasted a shot to the wide side of the net.

Dowling notched its first goal on a penalty kick by Aboubacar Mady Camara at 73:58 in the second half, cutting ESU's lead to 3-1. After a couple of missed scoring chances by the Warriors, Dowling took a break and turned it into the second goal of the half.

Garrick Turner's shot was stopped by Warrior keeper Jason Land, but Mesut

Karatuna was there to corral the rebound and pull the Golden Lions within a goal with 7:49 left in the contest.

Land and the rest of the ESU defense were strong down the stretch, and the Warriors held on for the 3-2 victory.

The win gives ESU the inside edge to a berth in the NCAA Division II Tournament. Dowling entered the game as the second-rated team in the Northeast Region, while ESU was third. Only two teams from the region are selected to appear in the Tournament. LIU-Southampton holds the No. 1 spot and has defeated both teams.

Dowling 0-2 2

East Stroudsburg 3-0 3

ESU - Pat Stanco (unassisted), 1:59

ESU - Ahmet Kose (Jorge Chapoy), 2:54

ESU - Karl Nusshag (unassisted), 22:10

Dowling - Aboubacar Mady Camara (penalty kick), 73:58

Dowling - Mesut Karatuna (unassisted), 82:11

Shots: ESU 10, Dowling 12; Corner Kicks: ESU 2, Dowling 4; Goalie Saves: ESU - Jason Land 10, Dowling - Mervin Shade 6.

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