JAMAICA, N.Y. — Playing in rainy and wet conditions, the top-seeded York College men's soccer team defeated eighth-seeded Brooklyn College, 2-0, in the City University of New York Athletic Conference (CUNYAC) Quarterfinals on Saturday afternoon. 

With the win, the Cardinals advance to the CUNYAC semifinals on Wednesday, where they'll face fourth-seeded Medgar Evers at 4 p.m., at the Aviator Sports and Recreation Complex.

After controlling much of the action early on,  York finally got on the board in the 30th minute, when freshman Francisco Florez (Colombia, Bryant) score from 40 yards deep to put the Cardinals ahead 1-0.   The score would remain 1-0 going into halftime with York outshooting Brooklyn, 10-4. 

In the second half, the Cardinals continued to control the game, outshooting the Bridges, 11-2.   However, Brooklyn nearly tied the score in the 75th minute off a shot in front of the net by Vasilios Mantagas but York goalie Marcin Kasza (Poland/Newcomers) made a diving stop to preserve the lead.   Five minutes later the Cardinals put the game away when Jean Edouard Gerlus (Queens, NY/ Newtown) set up Michel Nicolas (Port-au-Prince, Haiti/ Newtown) for the second goal of the game.

“It was a struggle because the field was so wet and slippery, but our strikers were a major strength for us today,” said York assistant coach Rudi Mbele.  “We are looking forward to the semi-finals on Wednesday.  We will be ready. ”

Kasza had four saves for York, while Brooklyn’s Scott Geller turned away eight shots. Brooklyn held a 3-2 edge on corner kicks

York, the top seed in the CUNYAC playoffs, awaits the winner of the fourth seed Medgar Evers and fifth-seeded CCNY.  The two teams will meet on Wednesday at Aviator Field in Brooklyn at 4 p.m.