ROCKVILLE, Md., September 4, 2022 – Batista played the hero for No. 11-ranked Monroe College Mustangs men's soccer team on Sunday, scoring the game-winning goal with just over a minute to play to lift the Mustangs over Div. II No. 2 CCBC Essex, 4-3, at Montgomery College. The Mustangs remain unbeaten at 5-0 with the win, while the Knights take their first loss and fall to 2-1.
After CCBC Essex tied the game late, Batista managed to break the tie with just 67 seconds remaining in the second half to put the Mustangs ahead for good. Earlier in the half, Batista tied the game on a penalty kick. He is now tied for the team lead with five goals on the season, and leads the Mustangs with two game-winning goals.
The Mustangs continued their streak of early goals in Sunday's matchup, with
Gabriel Silveira getting things going in the third minute after playing it into the box and beating the keeper to put Monroe up, 1-0. Less than a minute later, CCBC Essex tied it up on Ethan Hackenberg's goal. In the 23rd minute, Toga Katsuma scored for the Knights to put them ahead, 2-1. The game went to halftime with that score, seeing Monroe trail for the first time this season.
In the 54th minute, Batista was awarded a penalty-kick opportunity, and he did not waste it, tying the game up at 2-2.
Tony Yeboah later broke the tie in the 70th minute, giving the Mustangs a later 3-2 lead. The lead held until the 86th minute, when Katsuma scored his second of the day to tie the game up at 3-3 with just over four minutes to play in regulation. With time running low, the Mustangs jumped right back in the lead when Batista netted his second of the day at 88:53, providing Monroe with the game-winning goal.
Maurice Koenig made two saves to earn his fifth victory in as many games this season between the pipes for Monroe. Robin Schulze made one stop for the Knights, but allowed four goals to take his first loss of the year.
A tightly contested matchup, the Mustangs held a narrow edge in shots, 12-11, while shots on goal were even at 5-5. Corner kicks went Monroe's way, 5-3.
The Mustangs will play their first home contest on Saturday, Sept. 10, in an exhibition against Atlantis University of the USCAA. The game at Skidelsky Field at Flowers Park in New Rochelle is set for a 7:30 p.m. kickoff.
ABOUT THE ATHLETIC PROGRAM AT MONROE COLLEGE
The athletic program at Monroe College encompasses a total of 35 teams competing across nine sports. There are 21 varsity and junior varsity programs, as well the Monroe College marching band and the newly added esports and men's volleyball programs, competing on the New Rochelle campus as the Mustangs (NJCAA Division I). The Monroe Express, based out of the Bronx campus, has 11 teams competing at the NJCAA Division III level.
For more information about the Monroe Mustangs, please visit us at
www.MonroeCollegeMustangs.com or follow us on social media: Facebook (
Monroe Mustangs Athletics), Twitter (
@Monroe_Mustangs) and Instagram (
@monroemustangs).
