Sparkill, N.Y. - A second half goal by Queens College, broke a 1-1 tie and sent the St. Thomas Aquinas College Men's Soccer team to a 2-1 defeat on Saturday at Spartan Field. 

STAC moves to 5-6-4 overall and 1-3-3 in the ECC, while Queens improves to 12-5-0 and 5-2-0. The loss eliminates the Spartans from playoff contention with one game left to play in the regular season.

How it Happened

• A hotly contested match between the teams resulted in no scoring for the first 32 plus minutes of action, with St. Thomas Aquinas holding a 7-4 shots advantage.
• The Spartans opened the scoring in the 33rd minute, as a Kevon Evans through ball would find the foot of Jorge Umana. Umana danced through several defenders and sent a boot past Knights keeper Dario Cruz to take a 1-0 lead.
• Just about 11 minutes later, the visitors would tie things up, when a high-rising shot Nicolas Cifuentes Diaz found the foot of teammate Oscar Garces for a deflection inside of the right post and past STAC keeper Tabor McDaniels to make it 1-1.
• STAC would hold a 10-6 advantage in shots at the half and earn two corner kicks to Queens' none.
• Following the break, the level of physicality would pick up on both sides, as the teams knew the playoff implications of the match. The Spartans and Knights had several opportunities to pull ahead , but were also constantly switching from defense to offense and vice versa due to their over aggressiveness, which lead to foul calls.
• Once such moment would result in a goal by Queens College. In the 59th minute Lino Pinto would be tripped up in the penalty area, resulting in the Knights being awarded a PK. Adolfo Martinez Paquet would be called upon to take the attempt and he would connect on a floater over the outstretched body of Tabor McDaniels to go up 2-1.
• Despite several shots and corner kick opportunities, the bounce of the ball would not go the way of the Spartans and Queens would take the one-goal victory, helping themselves in their own playoff race.

Inside the Box Score

• St. Thomas Aquinas outshot Queens 15-12 and held a slim 7-6 advantage in corner kicks.
• Jorge Umana picked up the lone Spartans tally, his team and league-leading 11th on the season.
• Tabor McDaniels (L, 2-4-2) earned the start between the sticks for STAC and made six stops on the afternoon.

Up Next

STAC closes out its 2022 regular season schedule on Saturday, October 29, facing off with D'Youville University at 1:00 p.m. Senior day festivities will precede the match between the Spartans and Saints at Spartan Field.