ST. BONAVENTURE, N.Y. – Cuneyt Vardar celebrated Senior Day by tying the program record for assists in a single game with three, helping lead the St. Bonaventure University men's soccer team to score four unanswered goals and jet past Army, 4-2, Tuesday afternoon at the Marra Athletics Complex.
While the senior Vardar shined, freshman forward Umechi Akuazaoku burst onto the scene with a pair of goals in a career-high 54 minutes off the bench.
Vardar became the first Bonnies player since Wally Lenk in 1997 to register three assists in a single game.
Akuazaoku put the Bonnies (3-7-1, 2-2-0 A-10) on top just out of the halftime break, slotting home his second goal of the game in the 48th minute off feeds from Francesco Caorsi and Matthew Wrobel, giving the hosts a 3-2 edge.
Joshua Pulla gave the Bonnies an insurance goal in the final minute of the contest with assists from Luca Nicastro and Vardar, for the senior's third helper of the game.
The opening 20 minutes Tuesday afternoon saw three goals between the two teams.
Army (6-5-1, 3-2-0 Patriot) got things started in the ninth minute when Bryant Brandon powered home the first score of the game.
Just moments later in the 12th minute, the Black Knights struck again. This time it was Oscar Pereira with the goal.
The Bonnies, however, cut the two-goal deficit in half in the 19th minute when Vardar found Wrobel in the box and the freshman settled the ball and scored his fourth goal of the season.
Akuazaoku pulled the Bonnies even just before halftime in the 40th minute. Vardar found the foot of Akuazaoku and the first-year forward finished his first goal of his career. Vardar was credited with his second assist of the first half.
Graduate student Trevor Wilson got the start in net, making five saves in the win.
Bona's four goals were the most scored in a game with defeating Howard, 4-2, in 2019.
Prior to Tuesday's game, the Bonnies honored graduating student-athletes Trevor Wilson, Francesco Caorsi, Jaaziel Thompson, Fredrik Hansen, Cuneyt Vardar, Isaac Boamah and Jacob Jashinski.
The Bonnies remain home to host La Salle Saturday, Oct. 16 at 7:00 p.m.
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