By Ralph Chery, Contributor | 

Another early season wound for the City College Men’s soccer team. Montclair State University overpowered the Beavers 7-0 at MSU Park, dropping them to a 1-2-0 overall record.

Head coach Roberto Ignaccolo used 22 players for this fixture, including five freshmen who made their college debut. Francesco Baldino, Edgar Gutierrez, Baker Mohammed, King Nordee and Bryant Ibarra all started for the Beavers, for the first time. Former Bergen Community College keeper, Halil Yenererq, made his first appearance for the Beavers, racking 45 minutes in the net.

Man-marking was the story of the night for CCNY, as they allowed MSU to score two free headers and two uncontested shots inside the box.

“We definitely learned man-marking and how to play against a team that we can possibly play in the NCAA [tournament],” Mohammed said after the game. “It was a learning process, we learned a lot from today’s game.”

Montclair earned a free kick after CCNY’s Lanfia Diaby fouled Matthew Gothrell in the third minute. John Starner headed Kevin Simek’s inswinging free kick in the bottom right corner of the net for the first goal of the encounter.

City keeper Maxwell Berkow made five outstanding saves in the span of two minutes, from the sixth to the eighth minute of play, to prevent a red-hot MSU side from doubling their lead. Surprisingly after Berkow’s show, he made a mistake that cost his team a goal.

Rafael Terci hit a low-cross from the right flank, Berkow came off his line but failed to get a good hand on the ball, allowing Matthew Gothrell to steal the ball before taking a shot in an empty net.

CCNY had a chance to cut Montclair’s lead in half about 17 minutes into the game when the referee blew his whistle for a penalty kick in their favor.

Anthony Scarallo was two for two at the spot last year but failed to convert his first penalty this season against keeper Mike Saalfrank. Saalfrank dove on his left to deny Scarallo from scoring for City College.

MSU added to their tally only two minutes later, as Rafael Terci flew past Danny Pachucho on the right wing before cutting inside the box and firing a shot in the far post.

Lucas Terci headed Collin Mulligan’s corner in the net four minutes after the hour mark to make it four. Terci scored another goal in the 37th minute, blasting the ball past Berkow after controlling Baldino’s weak defensive header in the box.

Terci finished Rob Chernez’s through ball late in the first half to complete a 42-minute hat trick. Steven Zamudio also netted late in the first half, giving MSU a 7-0 lead.

None of the sides recorded a goal in the second half. Montclair continued to play possession, while City College failed to move the ball past MSU’s midfield.

The Beavers will look to bounce back from this loss against, facing New York University on Wednesday at 4 p.m. It will be the team’s first home-game, playing on Field 82 at Randall’s Island.