Box Score CALDWELL, N.J. – The Felician University men's soccer team returned to competition on Wednesday after a competitive layoff of more than 16 months caused by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The Golden Falcons faced host Caldwell University in a Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference match at the Kiwanis Oval.
Men's soccer became the ninth Golden Falcon squad to return to intercollegiate competition since the CACC shut down play in March 2020 at the onset of the pandemic. The Golden Falcons were playing for the first time since November 8, 2019. However, Caldwell claimed a 3-2, double-overtime victory on Wednesday by scoring with two minutes, 34 seconds, remaining in the second extra session.
"It was good to finally be back on the field," said Felician redshirt sophomore goalkeeper Alex Ficarra (Phillipsburg, N.J.), who made eight saves. "We fought hard and we showed a lot of potential. Hopefully we can use the positives from that effort to move in the right direction going forward."
During regulation time, Caldwell (1-2) amassed statistical advantages of 17-10 in shots and 9-7 in corner kicks. But the Cougars were only able to press those edges into a 2-1 advantage on the scoreboard, a lead they clung to from the 19th minute. But a late Felician corner kick created a scramble inside the 18-yard box. Felician senior defender Alexandros Avraamides (Nicosia, Cyprus) was the first man to the loose ball and put a shot into the back of the net to even the score with 6:38 on the game clock.
Each side produced a corner opportunity in the closing minutes, but neither was dangerous. The Golden Falcons were on the defensive for most of extra time, and Caldwell came up with the golden goal in minute 108 when freshman Israel Dos Santos Neto (Salvador Bahia, Brazil) knocked home a cross from classmate Matthew Escobar (Kearny, N.J.).
Caldwell keeper Jalen Folsom (Beachwood, N.J.) earned the victory with six saves, and Dos Santos Neto finished with a goal and an assist. Senior Jorge Zerna (Paterson, N.J.) tallied in the first half for the Golden Falcons. Junior college transfers Zerna and Avraamides both notched their first NCAA goals to start their second seasons with Felician.
The teams were whistled for a combined 39 fouls (21-18 Felician) and seven cautions (5-2 Felician).
The Golden Falcons host Holy Family University in CACC action on Saturday at 11 a.m. in Lyndhurst, N.J. Per CACC policy, no spectators are allowed at events hosted by conference members until further notice; check www.caccnetwork.com for webstream details.
