New Rochelle, NY – Veteran leadership spearheaded the No. 16 Monroe University men's soccer team's victory in Saturday evening's East District Tournament quarter-final matchup at Skidelsky Field, with sophomores
Alvaro Ramos and
Hayato Otaka helping lead the defending champions to a 4-0 victory over Monroe Community College.
Otaka fueled the shutout by scoring the first two goals of the contest. In the 7th minute, an attack from sophomore
Alejandro Silvestrini led to a free kick opportunity near the box. Otaka delivered with a beautiful shot into the top left corner of the goal to put the Mustangs up quickly.
Despite the Tribunes getting opportunities throughout the first half, they couldn't capitalize. Otaka, however, came out firing after the intermission, scoring in the 49th minute to give the Mustangs a two-goal lead.
Ramos held down the fort with a clean sheet, his third of the season. The Tribunes forced the issue early with six of their nine shots in the first half being on goal, but Ramos swallowed all of them up, making impressive saves every which way.
Monroe Community College mustered just two shots in the second half as Ramos finished with five saves and clinched his seventh win on the season.
Freshman
Jin Yamamoto and Silvestrini padded Monroe's lead in the latter stages of the game, effectively putting the contest on ice and guaranteeing the team's hopes of defending its crown.
The Mustangs will take on No. 10 Harcum College in the East District semi-final on Saturday, November 2. Kickoff time is to be determined.
ABOUT THE ATHLETIC PROGRAM AT MONROE UNIVERSITY
The athletic program at Monroe University encompasses a total of 28 teams competing across nine sports. There are 20 varsity and junior varsity programs, as well as the Monroe University marching band, competing on the New Rochelle campus as the Mustangs (NJCAA Division I). The Monroe Express, based out of the Bronx campus, has seven teams competing at the NJCAA Division III level.
For more information about the Monroe Mustangs, please visit us at
www.MonroeUMustangs.com or follow us on social media: Facebook (
Monroe Mustangs Athletics), Twitter (
@MonroeMustangs) and Instagram (
@monroemustangs).
