Knights Battleground Week 2: Volleyball’s Season Opener, Men’s, Women’s Soccer Round-Up
Click here to view game summaries and forecasts across CCRI Athletics this week.
Men’s Soccer:
The CCRI men's soccer team travelled to Bunker Hill Community College in Boston today for a 3:30pm kick-off. Bunker Hill came out and scored in the first 39 seconds of the game. Bunker Hill went on to score 2 more goals before half time. The big difference between today's game and earlier this year was the Knights did not put their heads down after the first goal. They kept playing and kept fighting. In the 12th minute Andrew Jackson served in a ball from the corner kick where Braiden Corbett was able to jump high to challenge the Bunker Hill goalkeeper. This pressure forced the goalkeeper to mishandle the ball, and it resulted in a goal for the Knights.
Before the half the Knights forward Sebastian Velez broke into the offensive third and got off a shot. Yvens Zamor pounced on the ball with a quick sprint to beat a Bunker Hill defender to the ball on the goal line and Zamor blasted the ball into the back of the net as he and the defender both fell into the net with their momentum. The Knights fought to stay in the game in the second half but were not able to tie it up despite some chances. Nichols Pires and Kare Fapohunda had great games on defense. Botan Bakir also made some big saves in the net for the Knights. In the end the game ended 4-2 after Bunker Hill scored in the 65th minute.
The CCRI men's soccer team welcomed Bristol Community College to the Lincoln campus on Friday, September 20th for a 3:30pm kick-off. The Knights came out looking for the first win of the season on a rainy afternoon. 12 minutes into the game after a defensive slip up on behalf of CCRI, Bristol's captain, Claudio Ramos, put Bristol up 1-0. About 10 minutes later, Elijah Cruz assisted on a goal by Braiden Corbett to tie it up 1-1 for the Knights. A minute later, Cole Carreiro was called for a foul in the box which resulted in a penalty kick for Bristol. Kevin Herrera put the PK away giving Bristol the lead again at 2-1. Before the half, Andrew Jackson took a free kick for the Knights from about 45 yards out. Jackson managed a pinpoint pass to Victor Pedroza who headed the ball past the goalkeeper, tying the game again 2-2 before the half. In the 69th minute, Bristol captain, Claudio Ramos scored again giving Bristol a 3-2 lead. The Knights were not done fighting, an attribute they have developed in recent games. Jose Reynoso, who had an excellent game today in the midfield, found Sebastian Velez up top with a through ball that Velez was able to shoot past the Bristol goalkeeper making the score 3-3. Knights did show improvement offensively this game as the defense was pretty solid led by Braiden Corbett and Nichols Pires. Tyler Pendergast and Botan Bakir in goal kept the Knights in the game. With 10 minutes left in the game, there was another mental lapse on the wing and Bristol took advantage of the breakdown and scored the 4th goal of the game as Jason Riz put the final goal of the game away giving Bristol the win 4-3.
Coach Toro said after the game, "The team is showing more fight which is good, now we just have to be more confident with the ball at our feet and improve the possession game".
CCRI's upcoming schedule this week features two games. On Tuesday, September 24th, CCRI will play against Springfield Technical Community College for a 3:30pm kick-off at home. Then the Knights host Massasoit Community College on Saturday, September 28th at 12 PM.
Women’s Soccer:
The #6 Ranked CCRI Knights hosted North Country College on Sunday, September 22nd in their only match of the week. In a tightly contested match, North Country Community College and Community College of Rhode Island ended in a 1-1 draw. North Country Community College took the lead at 24:10 with a goal from Ella Rejiba, assisted by Brionna Foster. North Country controlled the pace of the game, registering 20 total shots, with standout performances from Ella Rejiba and Alice Hanning who combined for 8 shots. The Knights did not stand down. Just two minutes later, at 26:00, Herlinda Guitirez equalized for CCRI with an assist from Lauren Sauco. The equalizer by Guitirez injected energy into CCRI, allowing them to maintain momentum through the rest of the match. The match showcased solid defensive efforts, with both goalkeepers making crucial saves to keep their teams in the game. The game concluded in a stalemate, which is CCRI’s first draw of the season. This brings the Women’s overall record to 2-1-1.
This week sees the Knights hosting Springfield Technical Community College on September 25th at 3:30 PM, and then traveling to play UMaine Augusta on Saturday, September 28th at 1PM.
Women’s Volleyball
Knights Women’s Volleyball kicked off their 2024 season with a Tri-Match hosted by Bunker Hill Community College. In an exciting match, CCRI emerged victorious against Bristol Community College, winning three sets to one. The game featured intense competition and standout performances from both teams. The match began with a closely contested first set, where CCRI edged out Bristol with a score of 29-27. Going point for point, this thrilling finish to the set now set the tone for the match. Bristol quickly responded, taking the second set 25-22. As the teams battled for momentum, it became clear that both sides were determined to secure a win. CCRI regained their footing in the third set, dominating with a score of 25-18. Their strong performance continued into the fourth set, where they finished decisively with a 25-16 victory, securing the match. Overall, the match highlighted CCRI's resilience and teamwork, particularly in high-pressure moments. Their ability to perform under pressure and secure crucial points played a significant role in their victory, propelling them towards a promising 2024 season.
In their second match of the weekend they faced the host, Bunker Hill. After a strong first match, Bunker Hill dominated the second match, winning each set convincingly with scores of 25-13, 25-13, and 25-16. Jessica Patrone led Bunker Hill’s attack with 10 kills, while Empress Nordeus contributed 6 kills, showcasing their offensive prowess. Despite their efforts, CCRI struggled offensively, failing to secure any sets and finishing the match scoring in just the teens. Bunker Hill's solid teamwork and effective play at the net proved too much for CCRI, moving their record to 1-1.
Volleyball will travel to take on Massbay Community College at 6:30 PM on Tuesday, September 24th, and then return on Saturday, September 28th to play Roxbury and Massasoit Community College in their first home tri-match of the season. Match times are 12:00 and 1:30 PM. Come Support the team in Lincoln!
Player Spotlight: Braiden Corbett
Corbett enters this week tied as the Knights top goal scorer on the season as a defenseman, scoring a goal in back-to-back games last week against Bunker Hill CC and Bristol CC. Corbett, a defensive back for the Knights, has been an anchor on defense early on, and played both sides of the ball extremely well in his last two games. Although scoring may not always have to be on his resume, the Knights offense, still looking for their first win, is appreciative of Corbett’s recent scoring. Coach Toro said “Braiden is a gamer. He has a knack for the ball, and I am sure happy he is finding the back of the net as well.”
“Maybe we’ll see him up front in the future,” Toro joked. Corbett and the Knights will look to secure their first win against Springfield Technical Community College on Tuesday at home in Lincoln at 3:30 PM.