Mount St. Vincent Soccer Teams Dominate in Skyline Openers

Both the men’s and women’s soccer programs at the University of Mount St. Vincent entered Skyline Conference play with momentum, and after their first outings against Maritime College, that swagger has only grown stronger.

The women’s team closed its non-conference schedule on a high note with a decisive 4-0 win over the City College of New York. Junior forward Eva Puentes led the charge with a hat trick, while the Dolphins controlled possession from start to finish against a Beavers squad searching for answers on both sides of the ball. 

The victory set the stage for their conference debut and pleased head coach Jason Weisberg, who emphasized both depth and versatility in his lineup.

“Tried some players in some different spots,” Weisberg said. “I was happy with our players in how they handled it, and now we just have to continue to improve as we go forward.”

The Dolphins then carried that form into Skyline play, routing Maritime in a 10-1 victory that showcased contributions across the roster. Just three days after her hat trick against CCNY, Puentes once again sparked the scoring, putting the Dolphins ahead early. From there, Mount St. Vincent piled on, with eight different players tallying goals by the final whistle.

Senior midfielder Emily Legler highlighted the balanced attack, netting a pair of scores to lead the reserves. She was joined on the scoresheet by Aiyanna Robles Sedano, Victoria Gamarra, Shayla Hassler, Brittany Boyle and Kadence Gonzalez. In all, six reserves contributed goals, underscoring the depth of a squad that looks well positioned for another postseason push.

For the Dolphins, the blowout served as a statement win. Now 3-1-1, the program has built on last year’s success, which included a run to the conference championship and a berth in the NCAA Tournament. Their dominance over Maritime also felt familiar. Just last season, the Dolphins posted a 10-0 shutout over the their conference rivals on Sept. 27, a result nearly replicated in this year’s matchup.

The women’s program now turns its attention to a Sept. 24 road contest against the United States Merchant Marine Academy. Kickoff is scheduled
for 7 p.m.

The men’s team delivered a similarly impressive performance. In his return to the college he coached just a season ago, head coach Max Watson guided Mount St. Vincent to a 5-3 win in its Skyline opener on Sept. 20.

The Dolphins’ attack wasted no time asserting itself. Forward Manuel Vidal netted a hat trick in the opening 25 minutes, staking the team to an early advantage. Vidal later added a fourth goal, bringing his season total to eight, the highest mark on the team entering conference play.

William Sornin added to the first-half surge with a goal in the 24th minute, driving home a low shot to the right corner. By halftime, the Dolphins
appeared to be in complete control.

Maritime, however, fought back in the second half, cutting into the deficit with goals in the 57th, 62nd and 76th minutes. Despite conceding three, All-Conference goalkeeper Samuel Reine came up with three crucial saves to preserve the win.

At 5-0, the Dolphins are off to their best start since 2013, when the program opened with nine straight wins — though all came in non-conference play. This year’s opening Skyline victory signals potential for even greater success as Watson’s squad looks to build on its early dominance.

The men’s team next travels to Bronxville to take on Sarah Lawrence University on Saturday, Sept. 27. Kickoff is set
for 6 p.m.