Men’s Soccer Battles FDU-Florham in Nail-Biting Thriller

Centenary men’s soccer team improved their record to 2-3 when they challenged Fairleigh Dickinson University, Florham Campus (FDU-Florham), on Saturday, Sept. 28. Head Coach Ashley Nesbit was impressed with the team’s performance on the J.E. Reeves Jr. Field.

“Last year, we had injuries to our keepers and did not hit much consistently,” said Nesbit. “Our goalie coach, Julian Randall, has been spending a lot of time with our keepers prepping them and making sure we improve on our areas that have been noted.”

The game began during a humid cloudy day until the weather changed to a light drizzle. The combined cheering from the crowd, shouting from the coaches, and praise from the players helped make this intense competition exciting.

The first period ended with the Cyclones garnering one goal and the Devils earning two. Leading the Cyclones was Andres Casanova, senior forward. Defender Matt Paterno assisted.

Both Brandon Morales, a left-back, and Paterno managed to kick the soccer ball near the goal during the second period. The Cyclones were unable to add any more goals when this period ended. As a result, the Cyclones lost to the Devils 1-3.

The Cyclones remain perseverant about their progress during the remainder of the fall season.

“The men’s soccer team is doing great,” said Eve Haddad, a senior women’s soccer midfielder. “They’re holding their ground very well.”

“The best part about this game was the bounce back from our previous games,” added Nesbit. “To come out today and play well against a good team is a good confidence boost going forward.”

At the time of this printing, the overall record for the Cyclones is 2-3. Their cumulative record so far is 3-8-1.

On Wednesday, Oct. 2, the Cyclones battled Berkeley College in Woodland Park, NJ. The Cyclones will then face off at home against Purchase College on Saturday, Oct. 5.

Keep moving forward, Cyclones!