HILLSIDE, N.J. (9/11/13) – Senior Dominick DeLello scored twice as the Kean University men's soccer team overcame a pesky Hunter College squad 2-1 Wednesday afternoon on the East Campus.
After feeling each other out for the first 10 minutes of the brutally hot September day, Kean had the first great scoring opportunity with 32 min to go in the first. Kevin Olaya sent a shot off the post and then the ensuing point-blank volley by Akwasi Adu was saved by Emmanuel Aprilakis.
Kean scored three minutes later off of a throw-in deep in the Hawks' zone. After bouncing around between both teams, the ball found its way to DeLello on the deep right side. The senior one-timed the ball into the twine for the early lead and his fourth goal of the year.
Only six minutes later Hunter scored off a counterattack. Michael Taft brought the ball deep down the left side and crossed to a streaking Joe Gallardo Alzate down the middle for the equalizer.
There were numerous opportunities for Kean to score the go-ahead goal in the first half. The Cougars outshot Hunter 19-2 in the first 45 and DeLello , Patrick Foley and Luis Velasquez all equaled or bested the entire Hawk team's shot total. But the score stubbornly remained 1-1 at the break.
The Cougars continued to dominate at the start of the second half by taking the first nine shots, but Hunter's Alzate nearly gave the Hawks the lead on their first volley by ringing one off the post from 40 yards out.
With 15 minutes to go and the score still deadlocked, Stephen Moll fired a shot just over the crossbar. Kean continued to pressure the Hawks at every turn but could not find the final touch to score.
Kean's dogged work on the offensive end finally paid off when Edgardo Alfaro (pictured left) sprung DeLello open on the right side. Again, the Piscataway native fired a low, hard shot past the Hunter goaltender for what turned out to be the game-winner.
The Cougars out-shot Hunter 38-3, had 12 shots on goal to Hunter's one and held the same 12-1 advantage in corner kicks.
Kean will hit the road for its next four matches beginning Saturday at the University of Mary Washington.
