Box Score LYNDHURST, N.J. – The Felician University men's soccer team scored three times during the first 16 minutes and went on to a 3-2 Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference victory over visiting Bloomfield College on Wednesday afternoon at the Lyndhurst Recreation Complex.
With the victory, Felician (6-6-1, 5-3 CACC) secured a berth in the 2021 CACC Championship tournament. The Golden Falcons will make their first playoff appearance since 2011. Felician's six victories are also its most since that same 2011 campaign.
Felician senior forward Raul Abellan (Girona, Spain/IES Sobreques) scored twice for the second consecutive contest. Sophomore midfielder Danny Bzura (East Stroudsburg, Pa./Pocono Mountain East) netted his first career goal and finished with a goal and an assist.
The hosts led, 3-0, after 14 minutes of action. Just under five minutes into the match, Felician was awarded a penalty kick. Bloomfield junior goalkeeper Robert Kornel (Berlin, Germany/Schiller Gymnasium Berlin) saved the attempt, but Abellan beat Kornel to the rebound and slipped the ball past him.
Abellan found the net again only 67 seconds later. A free kick by Carlos Alonso (Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Spain/Lycee Jules Verne) pinballed off the head of Bzura leftward to Abellan's feet, and the senior snuck a shot inside the left post. During the 14th minute, Kornel stopped a header by Xabier Aizpuru (Barakaldo, Spain/Beurko BHI), only to see the rebound snake out to Bzura, who buried a 10-yard shot.
The tenor of the game changed moments later, when Bear senior Andre Di-Reumante (Takoma Park, Md./Northwood) intercepted a clear attempt by Felician senior keeper George Hernandez (Paterson, N.J./PCTI), dribbled in on Hernandez, and scored at the 16:17 mark. A successful penalty kick by Edgar Torres (Dallas, Texas/Newman Smith) pulled Bloomfield within 3-2, and still only 25:42 had elapsed.
Neither team scored again. Hernandez completed the first half with seven saves and had nine for the day. Bloomfield piled up a 19-12 shot advantage, but the Golden Falcon back line kept the Bears from creating many dangerous opportunities.
Felician saw an eighth consecutive match be decided by one goal or fewer. It is 5-2-1 during that stretch.
The 2021 CACC Men's Soccer Championship tournament begins on Nov. 8. Three regular-season matches remain for the Golden Falcons, including Saturday's 2:30 p.m. tilt at Thomas Jefferson University.
