KEENE, NH – Two goals just 56 seconds apart in the closing minutes propelled the John Jay College men's soccer team to its first victory of the 2026 season, as the Bloodhounds shut out Keene State College, 2-0, on Sunday afternoon at the Owl Athletic Complex.
After more than 80 minutes of scoreless soccer,
Greg Semsarian broke the deadlock in the 82nd minute before helping set up
Josh Clemas for an insurance tally less than a minute later. The victory improved John Jay to 1-2-0 on the season, while Keene State fell to 1-2-0.
Both sides struggled to generate sustained offensive pressure during a physical opening half. Keene State produced the first dangerous opportunity in the 15th minute when Esteban Henao put an attempt on frame, but John Jay goalkeeper Davio Rossi-Levin was there for the save. The Owls tested Rossi-Levin again in the 30th minute on a shot from Edoardo Tambini, but the Bloodhound keeper turned the attempt away to keep the match scoreless.
John Jay's best offensive looks of the opening period came from
Sekou Sheriff, who registered both of the Bloodhounds' first-half shots. His attempts in the 29th and 44th minutes missed the target. The Bloodhounds' defense held firm throughout the opening 45 minutes as
Charlie Metz,
Petur Larusson and
Kristian Hernandez each played the entire match on the back line. The teams entered halftime scoreless despite Keene State holding a 3-2 advantage in shots.
John Jay became more aggressive offensively following the break, generating six of its eight total shots in the second half. Keene State nearly struck immediately after halftime when Dorian Wilczynski put an attempt on target in the 49th minute, but Rossi-Levin again came up with the stop. The Bloodhounds responded with attempts from
Ian Hartigan and
Miguel Espinal in the 52nd and 55th minutes, respectively, as John Jay began pushing forward.
Keene State continued to apply pressure, but the Bloodhounds' defense remained organized. The Owls came within inches of taking the lead in the 79th minute when Adrian Bueno Bodas struck the left post. John Jay quickly turned that close call into momentum at the opposite end.
After Sheriff forced Keene State goalkeeper Giuseppe Denucce-Simms into a save in the 76th minute, John Jay finally found its breakthrough. At 81:05, Sheriff helped create the opening goal, finding Semsarian for the forward's first tally of the season and a 1-0 Bloodhound advantage. John Jay wasn't finished. Just 56 seconds later, Semsarian was involved again. Semsarian fired an attempt on goal that Denucce-Simms saved, but the Bloodhounds kept the attack alive. Clemas converted with Semsarian credited with the assist, doubling the advantage to 2-0 at 82:01.
In less than a minute, a match that had remained scoreless for more than 81 minutes suddenly belonged to the Bloodhounds. The goals marked the first of the season for both Semsarian and Clemas, while Sheriff recorded his first assist of the campaign. Semsarian finished with a career-impacting sequence of a goal and an assist.
With the two-goal cushion, John Jay's defense closed out the final eight minutes. Keene State attempted four shots after falling behind, but none found the back of the net as the Bloodhounds secured their first shutout of the season.
Rossi-Levin played all 90 minutes in goal and finished with three saves to earn the clean sheet. For the third year netminder, it marked his seventh career shutout.
Keene State finished with a 12-8 advantage in total shots, but John Jay was more efficient with its opportunities. Four of the Bloodhounds' eight attempts were on goal, compared with three of 12 for the Owls.
Semsarian made the most of his 29 minutes off the bench, registering two shots, both on goal, while finishing with one goal and one assist. Sheriff led John Jay with three shots and added an assist, while Clemas converted his lone shot attempt for his first goal of the campaign.
The Bloodhounds will be in action on September 9 as they travel to Kings Point, NY to tangle with the Merchant Marine Academy. Kickoff is slated for 7:00 p.m.
