#20 Tribunes Fall at Home For First Time in Three Years
ROCHESTER, N.Y. - After consecutive 2-0 victories against Finger Lakes Community College and at Lakeland Community College, the #20 nationally ranked Monroe CC Men's Soccer Program battled the Laramie County Community College Golden Eagles under the lights at John L DiMarco Field. Coming off an impressive win of their own versus #1 Monroe College of New Rochelle in a neutral site contest at DiMarco Field, the Golden Eagles were looking to finish the weekend 2-0 and solidify their spot as a top #20 team in the country, while the Tribunes were looking to defend a 17-1-0 home record since 2021, with their last loss at home coming against Genesee Community College during that 2021 season.
The intensity was palpable from warm ups, as a sudden down pour showed no sign of interferening with the intensity and focus each team displayed all the way upto the opening kick. As the rain stopped and whistle blew, it seemed as if everyone was settled in and all eyes were focused on the Tribunes logo at half field.
As the game got underway the strategy for each team unfolded, with the Tribues domminating the possesion, with players like Luca Dodge (Hilton, NY) and Manato Ogawa (Saitama, Japan) often with the ball at their feet, and the Golden Eagles patienly waiting to counter on any mistake the Tribs made. To their credit, the Golden Eagles passive and defensive strategy worked in the first half, holding the Tribunes scoreless in the first half, with much of the possession seemingly played on the home team's side.
The story changed when Tribunes Jack Chalmers (Carnoustie, Scotland) found Justin Krampl (Dubai, United Arab Emirates) in the 58th minute. However, the youth and inexperence of the Tribunes team showed as only 13 seconds later, the Golden Eagles scored drawign the game level at one a piece. From then on it was difficult for the Tribunes to rebound as they pushed offensively, but opened themselves up to the counter attack from LCCC, who scored what would be the deciding goal in the 82nd minute.
Despite their best efforts, MCC could not eqauilize and the hard fought battle ended with the statement of arrival for the Golden Eagles and a tough pill to swollow for the Tribunes. In a game that saw seven yellows and a red card, a silver lining for the Tribs is that their team was talented enough to break through and score first, and if the maturation this game can provide comes to fruition, what is a very talented MCCC Men's Soccer Program can have a lot of success this season and could result in a championship.
