2024 Skyline Conference Men's Soccer Championship - First Round
(6) Farmingdale State 4, (3) U.S. Merchant Marine Academy 1

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KINGS POINT, N.Y. | Sixth-seeded Farmingdale State College used a two-goal effort from freshman winger Jean Mejia (Freeport, N.Y.), as well as a six-save effort from junior goalkeeper Rocco Dispinseri (Dix Hills, N.Y.) on Saturday to defeat No. 3-seeded host U.S. Merchant Marine Academy in the First Round of the 2024 Skyline Conference Men's Soccer Championship, 4-1.

With the victory, FSC (9-8-3) advances to the semifinal round on Wednesday (Nov. 6), when it travels to Purchase, N.Y., for a 4 p.m. kickoff at No. 2 seed and defending champion Manhattanville University.

Mejia's first goal of the afternoon put the Rams on the board in the 27th minute of action, which provided for the halftime margin. Senior first-team All-Skyline midfielder Anthony Bileddo (Carle Place, N.Y.) started the play near the midfield stripe, and played the ball to the left to senior mid Rafael Castro (Cartagena, Colombia). Castro's pass played Mejia down the left sideline, before the second-team all-conference winger sent a ball towards goal that trickled just inside the left post past a wrong-footed USMMA (9-6-3) goalie Ethan Howell.

The same trio combined to double the Farmingdale State advantage just over four minutes following the halftime break. Bileddo – a first-team all-conference selection for the second straight fall – won a contested ball on the FSC side of midfield, before finding Castro open near the center circle. Castro then sent a through ball that split the USMMA central defenders down the middle, and sent Mejia in alone on Howell. Mejia calmly finished into the left side of the net, giving the visitors a 2-0 edge and the rookie his 10th goal of the season.

The Rams upped their lead just three minutes later, courtesy of all-conference first-team right fullback Daniel Rivas (Sr.; Westbury, N.Y.). Rivas collected the ball at the right side of the midfield stripe, and drove into the center of the field. The team co-captain's shot from 25 yards away rattled over the goal line off the inside of the left-hand post, pushing the visitors ahead by three.

USMMA pulled one goal back with 12:03 left in the second half, when Derek Vanasse was unmarked in the middle of the penalty area and headed home a right-side cross to put the Mariners on the board.

FSC notched an insurance goal against the Mariners' run of pressure with 4:22 left, courtesy of senior striker Olvin Yanes (Selden, N.Y.). Freshman William Guillen's (Locust Valley, N.Y.) left-side cross into the penalty area was cleared just outside the box by USMMA, but only as far as Yanes – who one-timed a shot from 25 yards away into the right-side netting to close out the win for the Rams.