Box Score Box Score

Junior Dan Josepher (Manorville/Eastport/South Manor) (Manorville/Eastport South Manor) and freshman Justin Rivera (Bay Shore/Bay Shore) (Bay Shore/Bay Shore) each scored a pair of goals as the Oneonta State men's soccer team shut out visiting Plattsburgh 5-0 in SUNYAC action this afternoon at Red Dragon Soccer Field.  The win for Oneonta (8-2-2/5-0-1 SUNYAC) pushes its current unbeaten streak to 10 games while extending its program record for home games without a loss to 25.  Oneonta remains at the top of the SUNYAC standings with its unbeaten record in the conference.

The loss for Plattsburgh (9-2-2/1-2-2 SUNYAC) was its second straight in as many days.  The Cardinals began the weekend as the #12 ranked team in this past week's NSCAA coaches' poll.

Today's game didn't start as though Oneonta would defeat Plattsburgh by five goals.   Oneonta saw two near misses in the first three minutes of the match that could have put the visitors up by a pair.  In the first 15 seconds of the match, junior Jarred Antonucci (Gloversville/Gloversville) took a through ball from sophomore Tom Greene (Schenectady/South Colonie) and slipped a shot passed a charging Maxwell Siegelman (Roslyn/Roslyn) (Roslyn/Roslyn) that just went passed the right post.  A couple of minutes later, sophomore Joe Aratari (Rochester/Irondequoit) headed a cross just over the cross bar.

The Red Dragons came back and got its first real opportunity in the eighth minute when senior Gary Laronde (Wheatley Heights/Half Hollow Hills) (Wheatley Heights/Half Hollow Hills) broke in alone off the left flank and fired a shot that was tipped by a diving Andy Heighington (Simcoe, Ontario).  As it trickled toward the goal line it was knocked out to the right flank by a defender.  The ball was then crossed back in front where Laronde got his head on it only to be stopped by Heighington.

Less than one minute later, Plattsburgh had another shot just go wide by senior Pat Shaughnessy (Plattsburgh/Plattsburgh).

The first shot to find the back of the goal for Oneonta came in the 12th minute of play when junior Eric Fortier (Pleasant Valley/Arlington) (Pleasant Valley/Arlington) took a shot from 25 yards out in the center of the field that found the inside of the left corner of the goal for a 1-0 lead.

Oneonta added a second goal in the 30th minute when Josepher beat Heighington to a ball that came out of the back off the foot of Nicholas Gregg (Apalachin/Owego Free Academy) (Apalachin/Owego Free Academy).  Josepher was able to chip the ball over Heighington with the outside of his left foot.

The Red Dragons had another opportunity in the 38th minute to go up 3-0, but Heighington made two diving stops.

After another near goal early in the second half for the visitors, Rivera notched his first collegiate goal in the 50th minute to give Oneonta a three-goal lead.  Rivera was able to dribble in traffic to free his right foot for a shot that found the right corner of the goal.  Rivera would score again nine minutes later when he collected a loose ball in the box.

Josepher capped the scoring in the 65th minute on a direct kick that he bent from the right flank.

Oneonta will be back in action this coming Wednesday at home when they host Skidmore College beginning at 4pm.

Goals by period       1  2  Tot
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Plattsburgh.........  0  0 -  0
Oneonta State.......  2  3 -  5

SCORING SUMMARY:
1.  11:09 ONEMS Eric Fortier (Pleasant Valley/Arlington) (7) (unassisted) - shot from 25yards out, tucked in corner of goal
2.  29:56 ONEMS Daniel Josepher (5) (Nicholas Gregg (Apalachin/Owego Free Academy)) - pass from the back, chipped over goalie
3.  49:53 ONEMS Justin Rivera (Bay Shore/Bay Shore) (1) (unassisted) - dribbled in through defense, shot and scored
4.  58:49 ONEMS Justin Rivera (Bay Shore/Bay Shore) (2) (unassisted) - collected loose ball off the defender
5.  64:13 ONEMS Daniel Josepher (6) (unassisted) - direct kick

Shots: Plattsburgh 8, Oneonta State 14
Saves: Plattsburgh 5 (Mike Lind 1; Andy Heighington 3; TEAM 1), Oneonta State 3 (Max Siegelman 2; TEAM 1)