(Suffern, NY) - To say that Tuesday's effort must have been satisfying for Westchester Community College Men's Soccer freshman Robert McDonald (Bronx, NY/Glenmuir HS) could be the understatement of the 2019 season for the Vikings. After a sustained effort to obtain the appropriate paperwork to certify his eligibility to compete at the varsity level wiped out most of his season until this past Saturday, the rookie midfielder on Tuesday displayed precisely why he persisted for so many weeks to gain his chance to play. McDonald notched three points, including his first career goal in the 80th minute as the Westchester Community College Men's Soccer team overcame an early deficit to score a 5-1 win over Rockland Community College on Tuesday afternoon at Rockland CC.

With the win, Westchester CC is now 8-3 overall, and 3-0 in the Mid-Hudson Conference as the Vikings have now won five of their last six games against Rockland. With the win, Westchester finishes the 2019 season with a 7-3 record in NJCAA Region XV play, The victory also clinched a spot in the Mid-Hudson Conference Championship Game for the Vikings. Westchester will play Ulster Community College on Tuesday, Oct. 15 for the Mid-Hudson Conference crown. The site of the final will be on the line when the teams face each other on Saturday, Oct. 12 at Westchester CC.

Rockland CC (3-10-1, 2-8-1, 1-1-1) made things interesting early, scoring the opening goal in the 15th minute to take a 1-0 lead. However, from there, it was all Westchester. Sophomore Jose Tovar (Yonkers, NY/Riverside HS) tied things in the 32nd minute, converting a penalty kick opportunity for his fourth goal of the 2019 season, including tallies during three consecutive games.

The game was broken wide open late in the first half, when freshman Jason Almedia Da Cruz (Yonkers, NY Escola Secundaria Olavo Moniz (Cape Verde) scored twice in a little over a minute, converting passes from Matthew Melnychuk (Irvington, NY/Irvington HS) and Tuane Tapper (Mount Vernon, NY/Mount Vernon HS), respectively), to put the Vikings ahead 3-1. 

Just over four minutes into the second half, McDonald made his presence felt. First, he found Tapper open on a crossing pass that Tapper easily converted into his ninth goal of the season for a 4-1 lead. Finally, with just over 10 minutes remaining in the game, McDonald stuck pay-dirt for the first time in his career, the result of a spectacular individual effort for the 5-1 final.

Overall, Westchester owned a 25-9 edge in shots, and a 9-1 advantage in corner kick opportunities.

Westchester CC returns to action on Saturday, Oct. 12 when the Vikings host Ulster Community College at 1:00 p.m. The only thing at stake on Saturday his home field advantage for the Oct. 15 Mid-Hudson Conference Championship Game as the Vikings have completed their NJCAA Region XV and Mid-Hudson Conference regular season schedule.