Marist men’s soccer saw their young core outplay Long Island University on Saturday night, as goals from three different underclassmen showed why Marist has relied upon a youth movement in the early going.
Youth night at Tenney Stadium did not end after the LaGrange Soccer Club was honored pregame, as Marist (3-4) took a lead through the team’s underclassmen and stayed hot, earning a 3-2 win over LIU (3-3-3). Goals from freshman defender Gijs Verhuel, sophomore midfielder Adam Rustami and freshman defender Evan Marques highlighted the child-like energy and enthusiasm that Marist has been playing with of late.
With a lineup featuring eight underclassmen, Marist’s young core looked to build off their win last time out versus nationally-ranked Fordham. The Red Foxes put on quite the show for the children in the stands, taking a 2-0 lead at the break.
In the 16th minute, a corner kick taken by junior midfielder Skylar Cunha found the head of sophomore defender Nicholas Sanchez and pinballed around in the box before Gijs Verhuel rifled it into the back of the net, giving Marist a 1-0 lead. Gijs and his brother Chris are both freshmen who have made an impact so far with early-season goals.
“I’m very happy that I can help the team, and make a difference with the goal,” said Verhuel.
The young athletes of LaGrange Soccer Club were ferocious in their support, and this early goal only served to energize them even more.
The continued pressure from the youthful Marist side forced LIU to stay on the backfoot throughout the first half. As the clock ticked, a cross played in by sophomore midfielder Kyle Evans was redirected into the air by team captain and graduate student defender Stephen Betz before being headed home by sophomore midfielder Adam Rustami to double the Marist lead.
The two goalscorers were not the only young Red Foxes influencing the game, though. Freshman midfielder Caio Cavaletti out of Brazil earned his first start and did not disappoint. He ran all around the LIU midfield, picking out passes left and right. After coming into the game with only 131 minutes played, Cavaletti played over 70 minutes as he helped lead the Red Foxes to their second straight win.
“It starts in training and the fact that he’s starting to get it,” said head coach Matt Viggiano, “There’s always an adjustment coming from different parts of the world.”
“I had the opportunity, and I think I’m just showing what I can do,” said Cavaletti.
During the halftime break the field was taken over by the members of LaGrange Soccer Club, getting some games in on the field. With many in attendance, it was a picturesque night that the young players are sure to remember.
Marist stayed hot out of the break, as the attack looked sharp throughout the early parts of the half.
A quick counterattack led by Cavaletti resulted in a goal as he drove across the field before switching the play with a ball across to Evans, who kept the move going with a dish to the freshman Marques. Marques then buried it into the far corner to give Marist a 3-0 lead in the 65th minute, another feather in the cap of the youth movement.
LIU then rallied, scoring two goals over a five-minute stretch. Marist battled to hold on as the Sharks found their footing, defending a barrage of attacks as the clock wound down.
With the young crowd on their feet, and the energy ready to explode, the Red Foxes kept the lead and sent the crowd home happy as they held on for the 3-2 win.
“They bring a lot of life and joy to what we do, they come ready to train every day,” said Viggiano.
Edited by Luke Sassa
Photo credit: Jaylen Rizzo
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