Box Score Box Score

The Oneonta State men's soccer team will continue to dance after a 4-0 victory against Penn State Behrend in the second round of the NCAA Div. III tournament.  With the victory, Oneonta (16-2-2) advances into the sectional round of the NCAA tournament, which leaves them as one of 16 teams still playing.  Its first year as a participant in the NCAA Div. III tournament, this is the farthest the Red Dragons have advanced since 1972, when Oneonta played in the College Division national championship game.

Oneonta already knows who it will be playing in the round of 16 next weekend.  They will be matched against St. Lawrence, who defeated Western New England 3-2 in overtime today.  The two met earlier this year at the Lotto Tournament hosted by the Saints and St. Lawrence came out on top, 3-2.

Oneonta will find out later tonight where and when they will be playing in the sectionals.  It could be home, which would allow Oneonta to play on Red Dragon Field, a place where they haven't lost in 26 games.  The Red Dragons are 18-0-8 during the unbeaten streak, which began during the 2009 season.

The Red Dragons continued to streak as today's win was its 12th straight and 16th game overall without a loss.  The 12 consecutive wins is the second longest winning streak in the history of the program, eight games shy of the program record of 20.

Oneonta opened the scoring in the 10th minute of the match on a play set up by junior Eric Fortier (Pleasant Valley/Arlington) (Pleasant Valley/Arlington).  Fortier maneuvered around a couple of defenders off the right flank and sent a pass to a wide open Jeff Christian (Middletown/Minisink Valley) (Middletown/Minisink Valley) in the middle of the field.  Christian settled the pass and fired a shot that went over the goalkeeper's head, but under the cross bar for the 1-0 lead.  The goal was Christian's first of the season.

Eight minutes later it was Fortier who was in the right place on a corner kick.  Senior Nicholas Lange (Freeville/Dryden) (Freeville/Dryden) serviced the ball into the box, which junior Alex Shkreli (Bedford/Fox Lane) (Bedford/Fox Lane) flicked to Fortier, who then finished the play with a header of his own.  For Fortier, it was his team-leading 12th goal of the season.

The Red Dragons capped the first half scoring in the 44th minute when Dan Josepher (Manorville/Eastport/South Manor) (Manorville/Eastport South Manor) stepped up and converted a penalty kick.  The kick was called after Addison Straub (Manlius/Fayetteville Manlius) (Manlius/Fayetteville Manlius) was fouled in the box by a Penn State defender.

“This was a great performance for us,” said Oneonta head coach Iain Byrne.  “Back to back games can be grueling but we managed to start fast and control most of the first half into a strong wind.”

Oneonta controlled the tempo in the second half and used its ball control style of play to use the clock to shorten the game.  In the 76th minute, senior Jonathan Kowalski (Glens Falls/Glens Falls) (Glens Falls/Glens Falls) added a final goal for Oneonta.  Kowalski was able to collect a loose ball that rolled across the box before putting a ball inside the right post.

Coach Byrne said, “We got our goals at the right times and that took the pressure off us and we could possess the ball for the second half.  They are a good team and make it hard with their work rate, but our quality in the attacking third has been the key for us this season.”

“Our goal as freshman was to win the SUNYAC and make the NCAA tournament,” said senior Raymond Fitzpatrick (Garden City/Garden City) (Garden City/Garden City) after the game.  “In four years we have come together and now we have our sights set on San Antonio.  I couldn't ask for anything more in my final year.”