Lehman men’s soccer to defend CUNYAC crown

Fresh off its 2016 CUNY Athletic Conference championship, the Lehman men’s soccer team will begin its quest to defend its crown Sept. 1 when the Lightning hosts Sarah Lawrence College at 5 p.m.

Toma Gojcevic begins his fourth season as Lightning head coach, and will again have the services of stellar senior Essosa Alyui, the heart and soul of Lehman last season. 

Alyui, who was named to the CUNYAC All-First Team last season, led the Lightning in both goals (9) and points (19) last season. His final goal of the year was the eventual CUNYAC title-clincher in Lehman’s victory over Hunter. 

 The match against Sarah Lawrence will be the first of seven home games for the Lightning as they also host Brooklyn College on Sept. 16 at noon, City College on Sept. 20 at 4 p.m., Ramapo on Sept. 25 at 6 p.m., John Jay on Oct. 7 at 1:30 p.m., Medgar Evers on Oct. 18 at 6 p.m., and NYU on Oct. 21 at 3 p.m., which also will be Lehman’s Senior Day. 

The much-anticipated rematch of the CUNYAC championship game will take place at Hunter on Sept. 23 at noon. 

 The CUNYAC soccer championship tournament will get under way Oct. 25 with the semifinals slated for Oct. 28 and the championship game Nov. 4.

Harris, Gomez return to lead Lehman soccer 

The Lehman women’s soccer team is not a very old program — the school started the program in 2012 — but it has had it share of success since its inception, earning a CUNYAC postseason berth every season but one. 

And with scorers Chelsey Harris and Daisy Gomez returning this season, chances are good for another playoff run this coming season.

Harris, an incoming junior, led the Lightning with a team-best 12 goals and 28 points last season, while incoming senior Gomez placed second on the unit with 10 goals and 22 points. 

The team will look to them to get the Lightning past its finish last season when Lehman reached the CUNYAC semifinals before losing 4-2 to the College of Staten Island.

The Lightning open Labor Day weekend in the Centenary Tournament, taking on the hosts Sept. 1 at 3 p.m. The following day, Lehman squares off with the Coast Guard Academy at 3 p.m. 

The Lightning’s home opener is Sept. 9 when they host Bryn Mawr at 2 p.m. That will be the first of eight home contests this season, with the Lighting facing the Staten Island in a rematch of the conference championship game on Sept. 13 at 7 p.m., Purchase College on Sept. 15 at 5 p.m., Mount Saint Vincent on Sept. 30 at noon, Sarah Lawrence on Oct. 5 at 6:30 p.m., York College on Oct. 7 at 11 a.m., Brooklyn College on Oct. 21 at noon, and Yeshiva on Oct. 23 at 6:30 p.m. 

The CUNYAC conference tournament kicks off on Nov. 1 with the semifinals while the championship match slated for Nov. 4.

Head coach Casey Melilli enters her fourth season as head coach, owning a 30-21-2 overall mark and a 14-4 record in CUNYAC play, while earning two CUNY coach of the year honors along the way.

Be You Stay True Camp

Mount Saint Vincent basketball players Andrew Curiel and Francisco Zeno will host their third annual Be You Stay True basketball camp Saturday, July 8 from noon to 4 p.m., at Monsignor Scanlan High School, 915 Hutchinson River Parkway. The one-day camp teaches the basics of basketball, and is free.

 To register for the camp, visit BeYouStayTrueProgram.com.