Still Number One!

By Julie Baumgarten

Staff Writer

The men’s soccer team remains undefeated after a pair of victories over the Molloy College Lions and the Saint Thomas Aquinas College (STAC) Spartans last week, bringing their record to 14-0.

The Pioneers is currently ranked as the best men’s soccer team in the country, as they hold the number one spot in the NCAA DII National ranking for the third straight week.

The Pioneers hosted the Lions on Wednesday, Oct. 16. Molloy was quick to start, scoring the first goal just over a minute into the game. Over 70 minutes of suspenseful game play kept the Pioneer fans biting their nails on the edge of the bleachers.

With less than 20 minutes left in the game, junior forward Eivind Austboe evened the score with help from an assist by freshman forward Johann Kristjansson. Ten minutes later, Austboe secured the win with a second goal off an assist by freshman back Johannes Forgaard. The less than 10 minutes that remained on the clock weren’t enough for the Lions to come back. Post won the match, 2-1.

The Pioneers then traveled to Sparkill, N.Y. to take on the Spartans on Saturday, Oct. 19. The Pioneers’ senior midfielder Jonathon Watkin was first to score off an assist by Austboe, just over ten minutes into the game. A second Pioneer goal came shortly after by sophomore midfielder Matias Ruiz, off an assist by sophomore midfielder Per Forgaard.

With less than five minutes in the first half, Austboe scored the third Pioneer goal off a free kick. The Spartans finally got on the board with their first goal less than halfway through the second half. Their efforts weren’t enough. Ruiz and junior midfielder Vincent Tavernese each scored goals in the second half off assists by graduate midfielder Tom Bowen and Kristjansson. The Pioneers brought home the win, 5-1.

The Pioneers travel to Waterbury, Conn. on Wednesday, Oct. 23 to take on the nationally ninth ranked Post University Eagles, and then host the Mercy College Mavericks on Saturday, Oct. 26 at 2:30 p.m.