Cardinals Drop Third Game of Season, 7-0 to Knights

By Isaac Donsky 

Catonsville, Md. -- Cardinals men's soccer suffered their third loss of the season on Saturday afternoon, falling 7-0 to the No. 3 ranked CCBC Essex Knights at Joseph P. Murray Stadium.

In a rematch of last season's NJCAA Division II Region 20 Championship, the Cardinals gave up five goals in the final 15 minutes in route to their worst loss of the season. Catonsville (5-3-1) kept the game close through the first 75 minutes, trailing only 2-0 thanks to a strong defensive effort.

The Knights (7-1) struck first in the 15th minute when freshman midfielder Kazuma Ishizuka slipped past two Cardinal defenders and fired a deep shot that sailed into the net. Down 1-0, the Cardinals had a chance to equalize immediately in the 17th minute, but freshman midfielder Williams Yami's shot bounced off the crossbar. Catonsville got another chance in the 24th minute off of a penalty kick, but freshman forward Christian Angel's shot was stopped by a diving save from Essex sophomore goalkeeper Brendan LeMaster.

The Cardinals would continue to aggressively attack throughout the first half, with several opportunities to score emerging in the 35th and 36th minutes. In both cases, it was Yami taking the shots, but LeMaster denied him both times. The score remained 1-0 entering the half, as both teams had performed admirably on defense.

This defensive play continued in the second half, with neither team adding any goals until the 61st minute. Essex sophomore forward Sam Diaz sent a pass from freshman forward Michael Adekanmbi off the crossbar into the back of the goal, increasing the Knights lead to 2-0.

The game remained close until about 15 minutes remaining in regulation when the Knights exploded for five goals in rapid succession. Ishizuka added his second goal of the game off a deflection by the Cardinals in the 74th minute, then fired a pass that freshman forward Henry Ortiz buried in the back of the net one-minute later to make it 4-0.

Catonsville would attempt to respond in the 79th minute when sophomore forward Mike Vasquez broke loose from his defender, but his shot sailed over the net. The Knights added three more goals in the final five minutes, with Adekanmbi, sophomore

midfielder Toyosi Osemobor, and freshman forward Noe Kabre each scoring to make the final tally 7-0. 

Next up for the Cardinals is an away game against Potomac State College on Tuesday, September 28th. Kickoff is scheduled for 6:30 p.m.