Box Score Box Score
Oneonta, NY – The Red Dragons had a convincing win over visiting FDU-Florham in it's opening game of the 2011 season with a 5-1 victory.
Oneonta (1-0) started the scoring off with a penalty kick taken by senior Jonathan Kowalski (Glens Falls/Glens Falls) (Glens Falls/Glens Falls) in the 22nd minute of the game after a handball was called against the Devils in the box. The lead didn't last long as FDU's (0-1) Joshua Corpuz (Randolph, NJ/Randolph) finished off a breakaway that was set in motion by Nick Maccarrone (Garfield, NJ/Paramus Catholic) in the 25th minute.
In the 32nd minute of play, senior Gary Laronde (Wheatley Heights/Half Hollow Hills) (Wheatley Heights/Half Hollow Hills), who had just entered the game, scored on a breakaway of his own. Oneonta held the advantage in shots in the first half, 7-2.
The second half was all Oneonta as they were able to net three more goals in the last twenty minutes of play. Junior Eric Fortier (Pleasant Valley/Arlington) (Pleasant Valley/Arlington) scored his first of the season after a shot taken by senior Raymond Fitzpatrick (Garden City/Garden City) (Garden City/Garden City) hit the post and fell to Fortier's feet. Fortier blasted the rebound past the keeper for the third Oneonta goal of the game.
Freshman goalkeeper Daniel DeBottis (Cicero/C-NS) (Cicero/Cicero-North Syracuse) made a huge save in the 77th minute to keep the game at 3-1 Oneonta.
The last two goals came in the 83rd and 86th minutes by Laronde and Dan Josepher (Manorville/Eastport/South Manor) (Manorville/Eastport-South Manor). Laronde picked up a deflected ball at the top of the 18 and turned quickly to put the ball past the keeper. Josepher's goal was textbook. Freshman Justin Rivera (Bay Shore/Bay Shore) (Bay Shore/Bay Shore) flicked on a throw- in to Josepher, who volleyed the ball into the back of the net for the fifth and final goal of the game.
Oneonta out shot the Devils 20-4 and had one more corner kick in the game.
The Red Dragons will be in action when they travel to play in the Lotto Tournament hosted by St. Lawrence University. They play the hosts this Saturday, September 3rd at 12:00 pm.
