New Rochelle, NY – In a wild PDL game between in-state rivals on a perfect spring evening, the Westchester Flames outlasted the Brooklyn Knights 5-4.

After taking a 2-1 lead into half time, Westchester stood around waiting for the game to end in the second half.  When Brooklyn scored 2 goals in the 71st and 72nd minute to take the lead, Westchester was able to score 3 goals between the 84th and 88th minute.

Brooklyn scored an extra time goal to make the last seconds contentious.

Jake Keegan (Binghamton) scored 4 goals, virtually guaranteeing a PDL team of the week award.

Starting Line-ups:
Brooklyn Knights: 3-5-2.
F: Ugur Goktekin, Gabriel Bagot
M: Adam Maabdi, Michael Binns, Robbie Weir, Gennaro Ferrante
DM: Steve Colwell
D: Kyle Schlesinger, Zachary Gosse, John Johansson
GK: Dario Cabanas

Westchester Flames: 4-4-2
F: Jake Keegan, John Niyonsaba
M: Nicolas Capetola, Abe Chehebar, Housainou Ogoo, Tim Richardson
D: Diego Velasquez, Chris Dennen, Hayden Morris, Thomas Klim
GK: Gregory Cumpstone

Brooklyn Knights Observations:

The defense was sloppy; allowing large gaps to exist in front of the defenders.  The midfield didn’t support the defense allowing numerous man-advantage attacks for Westchester.

The first goal was scored by Ugur Goktekin in the 12th minute.  On the play, Adam Maabdi (Saint Francis-NY) drove the ball along the end-line before unleashing a hard shot at a very narrow angle.  The goalkeeper stopped the shot but allowed the rebound to drop onto Goktekin’s foot and he tipped it in from 3 yards.

Goktekin scored the next goal in the 71st minute.  On the play, Flames center back Chris Dennen (Yale) stepped up to pressure the ball near midfield.  2 quick passes found John Johansson (Saint Francis-NY) drove behind Dennen with Johansson gaining speed.  Johansson dipped his shoulder and accelerated past Housainou Ogoo and freed Goktekin behind the defense.  Goktekin calmly chipped the goalkeeper with a hooking shot that Gregory Cumpstone (Hofstra) tipped but could not stop.

In the 72nd minute, Gabriel Bagot (Saint Francis-NY) received a long ball with Dennen pressuring.  Bagot was too strong for Dennen and he was able to get behind him and slot the ball into the goal.

The fourth goal was scored via a corner kick in stoppage time.  I thought that Zachary Gosse (Siena) headed it in – but a Brooklyn player after the game stated it was scored by Johansson.  Officially, it was scored by Grosse.

The inclusion of Ricardo Campbell in the 56th minute was critical for Brooklyn because of 2 reasons.  It pushed Michael Binns wide where he found more space and time to kick start the offense and Campbell thrived in the middle, holding possession and connecting with the edge players.

Kyle Schlesinger (Stony Brook) was abysmal.  He seemed uninterested in playing.  He did have some nice combination work going forward, like in the 31st minute with Steve Colwell, Adam Maabdi (Saint Francis-NY), Goktekin and Bagot.  But, he was little more than a traffic cone on defense.

Maabdi was a refreshing player.  He is an aggressive attacker with confidence, speed and skill.  He needs to continue to refine his skill, for example, a poor chest trap in the 2nd minute and in the 33rd minute missing an open shot in the box.  In the second half, he seemed to be limping while defending, but was fully recovered with the ball at his feet.  In the 12th minute, he beat 2 on the dribble, made an awesome turn and was fouled.

Bagot is a slick player with some quickness.  In the 37th minute, he beat Dennen on a single run, but was dispossessed for a corner kick by Diego Velasquez (Briarcliffe).  Bagot made a silly decision turning into traffic (losing the ball) rather than out of it in the 62nd minute.

Robbie Weir (Saint Francis-NY) hit a beautiful 30 yard free kick in the 52nd minute.  His shot dipped over the wall and was bound to the lower left corner, but the goalkeeper tipped it wide.

Goalkeeper Dario Cabanas (Manhattan CC) made several keys saves to keep the game close in the first half.  Giving up 5 goals isn’t necessarily a high point on his resume, but he showed me enough to warrant another look.  However, I’m not sure that in the current defensive format that he can be successful.

Westchester Flames Observations:

Similar to Brooklyn, Westchester allows large gaps between the midfield and the backs.  While they didn’t have the numbers mismatch that Brooklyn continued to have – they don’t mark sufficiently.

The first goal was scored by Chris Dennen (Yale) from a John Niyonsaba corner kick in the 18th minute.  Dennen headed the ball from 12 yards and it floated into the far post upper corner

In the 31st minute, Jake Keegan (Binghamton) scored his first goal.  The play started with a 3v2 with Niyonsaba centrally on the ball distributing it wide to Keegan. Keegan took a settling touch and blasted a shot through the goalkeeper’s hands.

Keegan scored 2 penalty kicks in the 84th and 86th minute. The first penalty kick was earned by Tim Richardson (Fordham) being tripped by Matt Christie (University of New England D3) and the second was David Panchano (Briarcliffe) being tripped by Johansson.

The game winning goal was scored by Keegan in the 88th minute. Panchano fed Keegan a through ball and Keegan slotted the ball into the lower right corner.  

Keegan has very good speed, but he can be anxious on the ball with pressure.  He needs to convert more of his open shots – yes, I’m complaining about a guy who scored 4 times in 1 game, but if he has several more open shots – I want him to score on those, too!

The revelation for me was watching Tim Richardson hit numerous crosses on a dime.  He has a strong frame hiding his speed (albeit not extreme quickness).  

Abe Chehebar (Fordham) is a competent player, just playing within himself.  He’s effective in this manner.  I like his set pieces.  In the 90th minute, he hit Richardson but the shot was wide.

Nicolas Capetola (Boston College) left the game at half-time and Westchester played like stiffs right afterwards – coincidence?  Maybe.  Capetola was a good target for Richardson’s crosses.  His trapping is top-notch, but his shooting accuracy (or inaccuracy) was lacking.

Dennen’s defense was responsible for several goals.  He needs to play better.  Hayden Morris (Seton Hall) was surprisingly not involved in covering for Dennen.  So, I have to question his play, as well.

Velasquez’s crosses need drastic improvement.  He’s quick, but he relies on this rather than defensive positioning, skill and awareness.