ANNANDALE-ON-HUDSON, NY --- (www.YORKATHLETICS.com) After more than 18 months without sport at York College due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Cardinal men's soccer team celebrated the opening of the 2021 season on Saturday afternoon with a non-conference matchup against the Bard College Raptors (1-2-0) from Ferrari Soccer & Lacrosse Complex in Annandale-on-Hudson, New York.  York scored first but were unable to recover from a trio of first-half goals that helped the Raptors to a 6-1 non-conference win.

"It was good getting back on the field after 22 months. There was a sense of excitement and nerves in the locker room.  Although we did not get the desired outcome we wanted, it was obvious we have some very good players on the team, and I know with time, the chemistry will improve." - Courtney Boothe, Interim Head Coach

Just 29 seconds in, Bard pressured Cardinal goalie Ahmed Elgendy with an attempt that sailed left.  Kervin Mondesir then put York in the shot column at the 5:06 mark before the Cardinals jumped on the scoreboard with an own goal past Raptor netminder Gavin Hersey for the 1-0 avantage in the 14th minute.  York placed four of five attempts on target during a 7:38 stretch as Marvin Mondesir accounted for three on target.  Caleb Ribeiro scored the equalizer in the 20th minute for Bard, and moments later, Reed Campbell fed Pat Devine to give the Raptors a 2-1 lead at 23:55.  With 1:28 remaining in the period, Ribeiro converted a penalty kick to grab Bard a two-goal cushion at intermission.

Bard put the match out of reach early in the second half with a tally by Campbell in the 48th minute to make it a 4-1 game.

Marvin Mondesir registered a team-high five shots (two on goal), totaling four attempts in the opening half.  Elgendy (0-1-0) faced 30 shots and turned away 10 in his debut.  

In the end, Bard held the advantage in shots (30-10), shots on goal (16-2) and corner kicks (11-6). Hersey (1-2-0) made two saves to hold victory for the Raptors.

The Cardinals (0-1-0) are back in action Wednesday (Sept. 15) for their home opener against the Saint Elizabeth University Eagles (2-0-0) at 3 p.m. from College Point Field in Flushing, New York.  

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