Chris Barsky's goal with 2:05 left lifted Stevens to a 2-1 win over Kings Point

HOBOKEN, N.J. – Junior back Collin Clatanoff (Phoenix, Ariz./Desert Vista) and junior midfielder Chris Barsky (Holland, Pa./Council Rock) scored goals in the final five minutes to rally 12th-ranked Stevens Institute of Technology to a 2-1 win over the sixth-ranked United States Merchant Marine Academy on Friday night in a Skyline Conference men’s soccer game at DeBaun Field.

Stevens, which earned its eighth-straight win, improves to 14-1-1 overall and 6-0 in Skyline play.  Kings Point, ranked sixth in the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) Division III poll, suffered its first loss of the season, falling to 14-1 overall and 7-1 in conference play.

Trailing 1-0 late in the game, Stevens pulled even when Clatanoff took a pass from junior Steve Liebezeit (Pompton Lakes, N.J./Pompton Lakes) and fired a shot from 30 yards on the left side that sailed over Kings Point goalkeeper James Papazis into the upper right corner of the net with just 4:29 remaining.

Two minutes later, Kings Point was whistled for a foul near the top of the penalty area.  Barsky curled the ensuing free kick over a wall of Mariner defenders and into the left side of the net with 2:05 left to put Stevens ahead 2-1.

Following a scoreless first half, Kings Point jumped ahead in the 62nd minute.  Sophomore Kyle Flynn (Poughquag, N.Y./Arlington) pushed a ball ahead toward the Stevens penalty area.  Stevens goalkeeper Chris Celentano came out near the top of the box to clear the ball, but his kick deflected off a charging Flynn back into the net, giving the Mariners the lead.

Stevens had a pair of quality chances early in the second half.  Junior Brian Marks (Yardley, Pa./Pennsbury) had a shot blocked by Papazis.  With Papazis out of position, Marks picked up the rebound and fired a shot toward the net, but Kings Point freshman Chris Nitta (Scottsdale, Ariz./Brophy College Prep) cleared the ball off the line to keep the game scoreless.  Stevens senior Josh Ottinger (Schnecksville, Pa./Parkland) also had a shot cleared off the line by a defender later in the half.

Stevens held a 16-12 advantage in shots and an 8-4 edge in corner kicks.  Papazis stopped six shots for Kings Point.  Celentano made one save for Stevens.

The Ducks are back in action on Wednesday, October 20, when they travel to Purchase, N.Y., for a 3:30 p.m. Skyline Conference game against Manhattanville.

 STEVENS 2, KINGS POINT 1

 Goals by period       1  2  Tot

 -------------------------------

 Kings Point.........  0  1 -  1

 Stevens.............  0  2 -  2

 SCORING SUMMARY:

  1.  61:09 USMMA Flynn, Kyle (unassisted)

  2.  85:31 SIT CLATANOFF, Collin (LIEBEZEIT, Steve)

  3.  87:55 SIT BARSKY, Chris (unassisted)

 Shots: Kings Point 12, Stevens 16

 Saves: Kings Point 6 (Papazis, James 6),

 Stevens 1 (CELENTANO, Chris 1)