St. Joseph’s University Brooklyn and Brooklyn College battled to a 2-2 draw Wednesday afternoon at Brooklyn College Field in an evenly contested matchup. The Bears wasted little time getting on the scoreboard, with Matthew Cottone finding the back of the net just 2:52 into the match. Cottone finished a chance created by Joaquin Franco and Francisco Garcia, giving St. Joseph’s an early 1-0 advantage. Brooklyn had opportunities to respond, including a Lucas Sauco shot that was saved by St. Joseph’s goalkeeper Edwin Sacramento, but the Bears maintained their lead through halftime. Sacramento made two saves in the opening half as St. Joseph’s entered the break ahead.
Brooklyn came out with increased pressure after halftime and finally broke through in the 67th minute. Nathaniel Xavier Liebling scored his first goal of the season off an assist from Navruz Asatullaev, leveling the match at 1-1. The tie would last less than 10 minutes, however, as St. Joseph’s regained the lead in the 75th minute. Jared Nereo Flores converted a chance created by Garcia to put the Bears back in front, 2-1. Garcia played a major role in the St. Joseph’s attack throughout the afternoon, finishing with two assists, while Cottone and Flores each recorded a goal.
Brooklyn responded almost immediately, pulling even just 1:25 after Flores' goal. Adam Moharam scored his second goal of the young season, finishing a play set up by Asatullaev and Alberto Henig Sanchez to make it 2-2. The Bulldogs controlled more of the play late, recording six second-half shots compared with just one for St. Joseph's, but neither side could find a winning goal. Both teams finished with four shots on target, while each goalkeeper made two saves. The result leaves Brooklyn at 0-0-2 on the season, while St. Joseph's begins its campaign 0-0-1.