September 30th, 2025
Valhalla, NY - The men's soccer team kicked off the 25-26 season for Vikings athletics taking on Northern Essex in an early, non-region match up.  The Knights, fresh off their appearance at the NJCAA National Championship tournament in 2024, began the year ranked #10 in the pre-season poll.  Eager to see where the Vikings stacked up, Coach Alfio Carribotta scheduled a game prior to the start of the semester for the first time in many years.  

From the start, the Knights proved to be as advertised and just what the team was looking for in an early season match up.  22 minutes into the match, Northern Essex found the back of the goal to take an early lead.  Just six minutes later, Sophomore Rai Quispe scored off of a free kick deep in the Knights zone to tie the game at 1-1.  Just before the end of the half, the Knights took the lead off of a breakaway that pulled goal keeper Miguel Leal Diaz out of the net in a last ditch effort to make a save.

Westchester spent much of the 2nd half looking for the equalizer.   In the 81st minute, it was Quispe again, who was able to convert on a corner kick that was perfectly placed to bend in past the Northern Essex keeper.  It was Quispe's 2nd goal of the game as both of his strikes were unassisted.  

As time would down, WCC had one last chance to take the lead as they tried to work the ball deep with under a minute to play.   Northern Essex was able to defend their goal and quickly advanced the ball to the Vikings' defensive half.  As they team tried to defend, a penalty was called resulting in a free kick for the Knights, through the traffic the ball was shot on goal, past a diving and partially screened Leal Diaz.  With just 30 seconds to go, Westchester had one last ditch effort to put a ball on goal, but the Northern Essex keeper made an easy save to seal the 3-2 victory.  

Leal Diaz ended the game with 8 saves in a solid effort.  With the loss, the Vikings fall to 0-1 overall on the season.  They return to action on Saturday, September 6th as they welcome the Red Hawks of LaGuardia Community College at 1pm.