KINGS POINT, N.Y. (Sept. 1, 2026) - Junior Robert Derwin's (East Meadow, N.Y.) game-winning goal in the 67th minute capped a come-from-behind 2-1 victory for the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy men's soccer team over Berkeley College (N.J.) on Tuesday night in its season and home opener at Raymond J. Bartoszek Field. The Mariners improved to 1-0 on the season, while the Knights fell to 0-1.
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Berkeley opened the scoring as Jasen DeJesus found the back of the net for his first goal of the season in the 11th minute off an assist from Alvaro Carrera to make it 1-0. The Blue and Gray grabbed the equalizer in the 16th minute when sophomore Jackson Justice (Winchester, Va.) ballooned a beautiful left-footed pass to senior Patrick Novotny (Fort Worth, Texas) for his first marker of the season, tying the game at one.
USMMA continued to generate chances later in the opening half. Junior Cal Lutz (Charlotte, N.C.) sent a shot wide right in the 33rd minute off a cross, and sophomore Ethan Schuette (Gig Harbor, Wash.) pushed a right-footed attempt just wide in the 34th minute. Berkeley nearly regained the lead in the 44th minute as Emmanuel Guevara Mercado had a breakaway attempt from inside the 18 that senior goalkeeper Ethan Howell (Alexandria, Va.) turned away with a diving stop to keep the game level going into halftime.
Offense was tough to come by in the second half, but the Mariners finally broke through in the 67th minute as Derwin scored his first goal of the season following a scramble inside the box to give the hosts a 2-1 advantage. Berkeley nearly grabbed the equalizer in the 78th minute, but Bryson Strohecker was denied on a blast by senior goalkeeper James Castoro (Garden City, N.Y.), preserving the 2-1 victory for the Mariners.
USMMA outshot Berkeley 18-8 overall in the match and held a 9-2 advantage in corner kicks.
Castoro picked up the victory with one save, while Howell stopped two shots in the match. Jack Giannini took the loss for Berkeley and finished with four saves.
The Mariners return to action on Thursday, Sept. 3, when they travel to Madison, N.J., to take on Drew at 7 p.m.
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