By: Valentina Toro
Managing Editor
The university men’s soccer team tied Molloy University 1-1 on Oct. 13, after midfielder Gísli Ágústsson, a freshman, scored a penalty kick in the 82nd minute to even the match.
The Owls entered the game looking to improve their record but found themselves trailing after Molloy took the lead in the first half.
“I think we underrated them, and they came out fighting from the very jump,” Head Coach Reuben Ayarna, said.
Molloy opened the scoring in the 37th minute when forward Jack Hynes found the back of the net off an assist from defense Diego Cadena.
The university responded by pushing forward and creating opportunities, but the Owls entered halftime trailing 1-0.
The university finished with 10 shots compared with Molloy’s six, holding a 5-2 advantage in shots on goal.
Midfielder Kasper Murzinski, forward Jimmy Choi, winger Pau Cano and forward Giancarlo Ciotoli each recorded two shots as the Owls searched for an equalizer.
Despite the university’s statistical advantage, Ayarna expressed disappointment with the result and also acknowledged that the team still had areas to improve before their next match.
“I mean, we battled in the second half. We had chances to win the game, but overall, I think they play better than us,” Ayarna said.
The university continued pressing offensively throughout the second half. With less than 10 minutes remaining, the Owls received a penalty kick opportunity that gave them a chance to avoid their fourth loss of the season.
Ágústsson stepped up and converted the penalty kick, bringing the score to 1-1. The goal gave the Owls momentum heading into the final minutes, but neither team managed to break the tie.
Ágústsson, who entered the game as a substitute, said the university showed improvement in possession after making adjustments during the match.
“It’s just on us, you know, to finish our chances and not be sloppy at the backs,” Ágústsson said.
The Owls also faced challenges maintaining consistency throughout the match.
Although the university generated offensive opportunities, their ability to move the ball effectively depended on players working together rather than attempting individual plays.
“When they’re all on the same page, there’s a lot of beautiful stuff that happens on the field,” Ayarna said.
The draw moved the university to 3-3-6 on the season, while Molloy stood at 4-2-6. The result left the Owls searching for improvements as they prepared to return to conference competition.
With the regular season nearing its end, the university faced increasing pressure to improve their performance. The draw exposed areas that needed attention, particularly the team’s consistency and ability to maintain their intensity throughout a match.
Ayarna emphasized the importance of making changes before those struggles affected the team’s remaining games.
“We in trouble, if we don’t wake up.” Ayarna said.
