(Valhalla, NY) - Whether it was the first-ever win for the Westchester Community College Men's Soccer team over Suffolk Community College, or just the first Viking win in a really long time, the significance of this victory was not lost to a single member of the Westchester squad as the final seconds of the clock ticked down on Thursday, and the Vikings secured an incredible 4-1 win. What is known is that Suffolk had gone at least nine straight games without a loss to Westchester CC, dating back to 2012 - the point where records began being kept and stored away. Since then, there have been some rough moments for Westchester in this series. A 9-0 Shark win in 2012. An 8-0 win one year later. A 10-2 Suffolk win in 2014, and a 7-0 win one year later. In 2018, the teams tied 1-1, which felt in a lot of ways like a win for Westchester Community College.

But, on Thursday, it was Westchester's time. Finally. After years of futility against one of the nation's premiere men's soccer programs, the winner of five Region XV Championships during the last 11 years, Thursday was a great day to be a Viking. Four Westchester CC goals during a 19-minute span in the second half put the most emphatic of stamps on one of the biggest wins in Westchester history ... and in the process put the Vikings in the driver's seat for a top-four regular season finish in Region XV play, and playoff home game.

Like the powerhouse program they are, Suffolk (9-6, 5-2 Region XV) neither went down quietly, nor made it easy for Westchester (7-2, 6-2 Region XV). In fact, the visiting Sharks dominated play during the early going, bending the Viking defense repeatedly during the first 15 minutes of play with several golden scoring of opportunities, but at no point did the Westchester defense break. As the Vikings settled in, the game evened out, and the two teams engaged in a slugfest that featured 22 total fouls, and nine combined cards. At halftime, the score was 1-0, but Suffolk owned a 14-6 edge in shots as Westchester failed to make much of a dent in the Suffolk defense.

But halftime turned the tide in Westchester's favor. Two quick chances for the Vikings to open the half were turned away until 52:37 when freshman Jason Almedia Da Cruz (Yonkers, NY Escola Secundaria Olavo Moniz (Cape Verde) received a long pass, and streaked down the right side of the field. His crossing pass found the foot of fellow freshman Luis Madriz (Tuckahoe, NY/Tuckahoe HS), who promptly deposited the ball into the lower left corner for a 1-0 Westchester lead. 

Seven minutes later, Westchester had another golden scoring opportunity. The Suffolk CC goalkeeper pulled down a Westchester forward who was preparing to shoot, drawing a yellow card and penalty kick for the Vikings. Sophomore Jordan Bennett (Peekskill, NY/Peekskill HS) calmly finished the opportunity, and it was a 2-1 game. And for a while, things got wild.

Just over a minute after Bennett's heroics, a beautiful Suffolk passing play and finish put the Sharks on the scoreboard for the first time, making it a 2-1 game, and seemingly turning momentum Suffolk's way.

However, the change in momentum could not have been more short-lived. The next time the Vikings had the ball, sophomore Jose Tovar (Yonkers, NY/Riverside HS) dribbled near the top of the box, made a quick turn, and blasted a rocket into the upper right corner on a picture-perfect shot to make it a 3-1 lead, and end all hopes for a Shark comeback. 10 minutes later, Madriz made another fantastic play, finding freshman Jonny Reyes (Peekskill, NY/Peekskill HS) with a beautiful pass in transition, and Reyes scored his third goal of the season for the 4-1 final.

Viking sophomore goalkeeper Guilherme Griza (Novo Hamburgo-RS (Brazil) Colegio Marista Pio XII) was once again spectacular, stopping 10 out of 11 shots - including eight out of nine during the second half - for the biggest win of his stellar career.

Suffolk had its fair share of opportunities, outshooting the Vikings 27-14, and the Sharks took seven corner kicks to Westchester's two. But, it was a day when the Viking defense did just enough to secure its biggest win.

Westchester has little time to celebrate, as another powerhouse battle looms. On Saturday, October 5 the Vikings host Region XV powerhouse Borough of Manhattan Community College at 12:00 p.m. as it will be Homecoming at Westchester CC. This will be a game with enormous post-season implications as the Vikings can lock up a top-three seed and home game for the upcoming Region XV Championship Tournament with a win.