NEWBURGH, NY – SUNYIT junior Kenan Jusupovic (Utica, N.Y.) scored the game-winning goal in the 103rd minute to send the Wildcats to a 2-1 victory over Mount Saint Mary College on Thursday evening. The Blue Knights dropped to 4-4-1 overall while SUNYIT improved to 7-3.
On a free kick from 20 yards, just above the corner of the box, Jusupovic beat senior goalkeeper
Paul Aries (Nashua, N.H.) high and to the back post for the game-winner. It was the first shot for the Wildcats in overtime.
Sophomore Nico Facey (New York, N.Y.) opened the scoring in the 20th minute, picking up a nice through ball from senior Handy Eugene (Vestal, N.Y.) and finding the back of the net.
Mount Saint Mary College freshman
Ku Lekaj (New Milford, Conn.) tied the game in the 50th minute, scoring his second goal in as many games. With a free kick opportunity from 25 yards out, Lekaj struck a perfect shot that bent inside the upper left corner of the frame.
After the Wildcats hit the crossbar in the 55th minute, Mount Saint Mary senior
Tomasz Michalak (Newington, Conn.) nearly had the go-ahead tally in the 62nd minute. From high on the right side of the box, Michalak headed a shot to the back post where it went just wide.
Aries put in another exceptional effort, making eleven saves to keep the Blue Knights in the game. SUNYIT sophomore Kurt Makowski (Grand Island, N.Y.) needed to make just one save to collect the victory.
Mount Saint Mary faces a string of five consecutive Skyline Conference games in the coming weeks. They’ll open up by hosting SUNY Maritime College on Saturday at 12:00 p.m.