LaGuardia CC Red Hawks 1 - 1 Dutchess CC Falcons
The LaGuardia CC Red Hawks Men's Soccer Team finished the 2025 regular season hosting the Dutchess CC Falcons at their home field on Roosevelt Island - Jack McManus Field - on Thursday, October 16th. The ball went to the Falcons from the opening kick-off, and they sent three forwards flying down the left wing to put pressure on LaGuardia immediately. Throughout the first half, the teams looked evenly matched, with each team dominating play for several minutes at a time and each team managing to create several scoring chances. Dutchess took nine shots, putting three on target, and LaGuardia took seven shots, with four of them requiring a save from the Falcons goalkeeper. The Red Hawks struggled defending corners all season, and they conceded the first goal of the game from a corner kick. A towering Dutchess midfielder found himself alone in front of the LaGuardia goal as the cross came into the penalty area, and he easily nodded the ball into the net to give the Falcons the lead.
During the halftime break, LaGuardia Community College Athletic Director, Marquee Poole, honored sophomore Red Hawks defender, Luiz Fernando Cardoso, with the presentation of a poster and a soccer ball to celebrate and recognize his contributions to the team, the athletics program, and the LaGuardia community as a whole. Cardoso completed two full seasons with the Red Hawks. He scored a few important goals for LaGuardia during his career, and he brought many positive qualities to the team; leadership, flair, toughness, versatility, and competitive spirit. LaGuardia will certainly miss having him in the selection next season.
The Red Hawks returned to the field fired up and ready at the start of the second half. Left winger, Edwin Sherpa, caused a lot of trouble for the Dutchess defenders, using speed and skill to beat his opponents and drive deep into the attacking end. Opposite him, on the right flank, Abdoul Ouedraogo surged forward dangerously numerous times, proving too swift and too strong to be contained by the Falcons left back. Both wingers almost scored and played several key passes to create scoring chances. The relentless attacks on the edges proved too much for the Falcons and LaGuardia finally broke through. A cross from the left side fell to Red Hawks center midfielder, Youssef Elsayed, and he guided the ball past the Dutchess goalkeeper and into the net with a sweet side-foot volley. Just like that, the game was tied 1 - 1. The pressure and pace of the match rose to a rolling boil, and if another goal was scored, an eruption from the bench and the supporters was certain. LaGuardia attacked with everything they had, firing 11 shots at the Dutchess net, but they were unable to score a second goal. Defensively, the Red Hawks buttoned up the gaps and held the Falcons to just seven shots total, two shots on target, and zero corners in the second half.
The game finished 1 - 1, and it felt like a fitting end to LaGuardia's season. The team showed they had improved, that they were competitive and set on staying in the fight to the very end. And yet, the Red Hawks were not skilled enough in the art of winning games and lacked the hardiness to earn a playoff berth this season. The team ended the season with a record of 2-8-2. It was an historic season for Men's Soccer. The program recorded two firsts: first win in program history, and first shutout in program history. Both players and coaches felt disappointment at not making it into playoffs this season, but they all feel encouraged and optimistic about the direction of the Men's Soccer program and the future of the team.
