New York, NY – Freshman forward Saif Zureikat (Amman, Jordan/Cardozo) took on the Bearcats, one-on-one to score his first career goal and the ever important game-winner at the 62 minute to lift the Hawks past the Bearcats of Baruch College in CUNY Athletic Conference men's soccer action Wednesday evening at the Metropolitan Oval in Maspeth, NY.

The Bearcats took control of the contest early on, scoring two goals with the first 25 minutes. Freshman midfielder Daniel Ospina (Queens, NY/Francis Lewis) placed a free kick over the Hawks defensive wall into the tope right corner to score his first collegiate goal at 13:05 total time. A little over ten minutes later, freshman forward Dominick Cinquemani (Queens, NY/Christ the King) converted a penalty kick to give the Bearcats what would seem to be a comfortable, 2-0 lead.

However for the second straight game, sophomore forward Danny Vera (Orange Country, CA/Mater Dei) took a free kick over the wall and bent it into the net, putting the Hawks on the board at the 35 minute mark. A little under five minute later, a precise throw in by junior midfielder Andreas Kalpaxis (Glendale, NY/Townsend Harris) opened up the door for junior Oscar Dotti (Mamaroneck, NY/Mamaroneck) to put the game tying goal into the net.

The second half was a back and forth struggle as both teams tried to take the lead, but in the end it would be Hunter coming out on top and winning their first conference match of the season.

Senior keeper Noah Fessler (Metuchen, NJ/Metuchen) finished the 90 minute match with two saves and two goals against, despite facing a game high 17 shots. Freshman Michael Murphy (Queens, NY/Archbishop Molloy) allowed three goals and had no saves in net for the Bearcats.

After tonight's victory, Hunter improves to 4-4 overall and 1-0 in the CUNYAC. They return to the pitch on Saturday, when they host Brooklyn College for a 1:00 p.m. CUNYAC match at the Metropolitan Oval in Maspeth, NY.