By PAUL GOTHAM
ROCHESTER, N.Y. — Dan Malloy’s header in the 58th minute proved to be the game-winner as the McQuaid Jesuit Knights defeated the World of Inquiry (WOI) Griffins in a back-and-forth RCAC game on Tom Seymour Field, Tuesday night.
Malloy rose above a cluster of players in front of the WOI goal mouth and redirected teammate Adriano Margiotta’s corner kick as McQuaid avenged an earlier loss.
“Anno played a great ball into the box,” Malloy said. “I just found a way to finish it.”
It was the sophomore’s ninth goal of the season, and the junior’s 15th assist.
“I played it far post. He’s had a couple this year off corner kicks,” Margiotta said of his teammate. “He found a way to beat his man and get there.”
The goal was the second set piece in the match in which Margiotta had a hand in converting.
“He just has that unteachable knack,” McQuaid coach Nino Pilato said. “He knows exactly where to put it and when to put it there.”
Margiotta sent the Knights into halftime with a 3-2 edge when he connected on a direct kick with 2.3 ticks left on the clock.
“Obviously, he’s not perfect,” Pilato added. “He’ll miss some, but for the most part his free kicks are dangerous and his corners are dangerous.”
The junior midfielder went inside post from 20 yards away for his fourth goal of the season.
The loss was the first of the campaign for WOI (12-1-1/4-1-1).
“They’re a great team,” Margiotta said. “We already know that. We played well. We came back as a team.”
WOI stung McQuaid earlier in the season when Ayub Jeylani scored in the second overtime for a 2-1 win. It was the first victory in program history for the Griffins over the Knights.
“It feels great especially with the loss we had to them last time,” Margiotta added.
Dan Rooney got the Knights on the board in the game’s fifth minute. McQuaid goalkeeper, Tommy Gallina assisted on the play.
But WOI answered five minutes later when Jeylani leveled the match.
Rooney scored one minute later for a 2-1 McQuaid edge. During the first meeting of the season between the two teams, the senior attacker appeared to have scored the winning goal in overtime only to have it disallowed. Making amends was important.
“This is just a really big game for me personally and for the team,” Rooney said. “It’s just a great win.”
Tori Hakizimana converted a penalty kick in the 22 minute to knot the match at two.
Any momentum gained from Margiotta’s tally before halftime almost evaporated when Miguel Lopez struck from 25 yards out in the 45th minute.
The Knights responded 13 minutes later.
“We’ve been talking about being resilient and just dealing with what’s in front of you and playing to the final whistle,” Pilato said. “For the second half, we had the better of the play. You got to tip your hat to them. They don’t ever go away. They’re fast. They’re tough, and they’re a very good team. Just happy the boys came out with a victory.”
The win was the sixth straight for McQuaid (13-2-0/5-1-0)
SEEDS OF A RIVALRY
In their last four meetings, McQuaid has taken two matches with WOI getting the win earlier this season. The two teams tied in their first match last season. WOI has taken the last two Section V Class C1 titles. The Griffins are currently ranked at the top of the C1 with 5.50 seeding points. McQuaid sits second in AA with 3.40 points.
SEE WHAT BROWN CAN DO FOR YOU
McQuaid’s Brennan Brown did not figure in the scoring column, but the junior attack’s presence was felt. Coming off the bench, Brown gives the Knights a third forward, with Rooney and Malloy, whose speed poses a threat to opposing defenses. Couple that with an impressive and ability to strike the ball in full stride, and Brown provides McQuaid with a late-season addition to the lineup who could play a vital role in the upcoming sectionals.
“He came in and did really well,” Pilato said. “He hustled and put pressure on them, made a few nice crosses in there. He was injured for a long time. He came back about six or seven games into the season. He’s just starting to get into the groove.”
UP NEXT
McQuaid closes the regular season Thursday when they travel to play Aquinas. The Knights took the earlier meeting between the long-time rivals, 4-1. The Li’l Irish led the game 1-0 at half. WOI continues in the RCAC when they face Edison/Monroe on Thursday before the finishing up against Wilson on Friday.
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