After starting the season 0-2, Men’s soccer has rallied back to .500 with victories over two local rivals, Hofstra and Columbia.

The team picked up a decisive 3-1 victory over Hofstra at home on Friday night. The Seawolves attempted 23 shots on goal, with 14 of them hitting the target. Michael Palacio, the 2006 America East Midfielder of the Year led the team with four shots on goal, one of which found the back of the net. It was his first goal of the season. Palacio led the team last season with 51 shots and four assists. Two corners from Palacio led to the other goals scored by sophomore defenseman Collin Geoghegan. Those two goals were the first of Geoghegan’s collegiate career. He started 13 of the 16 games he played in last season, but recorded only one assist and totaled three shots on goal.

Starting goaltender Dawid Ditrich, a six foot seven junior from Poland, only faced two shots on goal, and was inline for a shutout until the 83rd minute.

The team picked up a tighter 2-1 road victory over Columbia on Monday night. Maurice Brown, a red shirt freshman from Clarendon, Jamaica, scored the games first goal in the 29th minute off an assist from Mihailo Pavlisin. This was for Pavlsin, a freshman from Serbia, only his fourth collegiate game. Mahamadou Simpara, a senior midfielder, added the goal that made the difference in the 47th minute. It came off a redirection of a free kick by Palacio. Dawid Ditrich made two saves to pick up the victory.

The team’s season continues on Thursday when they face off against Adelphi at St. Johns University. The game is to start at 2:00 PM.

‘