Box Score The SUNY Oneonta men's soccer team faced an early season test last night when they battled eight-time NCAA national champion to a scoreless draw.  The game was a match-up between two top-10 teams in the preseason coach's poll and was played with the intensity of an NCAA tournament game.  Messiah entered the contest ranked No. 3 while Oneonta was No. 8 in the preseason poll.

Despite being outshot 17-7 overall, the Red Dragons did manage a couple of shots on goal, but were denied getting a ball to the back of the net.  The Falcons, who were eliminated in the second round of the 2011 NCAA tournament also held a 14-3 advantage in corner kicks.

This game came down to some solid goalkeeping as Oneonta keeper, Daniel DeBottis (Cicero/C-NS), came up with nine saves in the match while his counterpart, Brandon West, made a pair of stops.

The tie at Messiah completed a winless trip to the Keystone State as on Friday night, the Red Dragons fell to Franklin & Marshall 2-1 to open the season.  A pair of goals in the first 19 minutes for the hosts proved too much to overcome.

Sophomore Justin Rivera (Bay Shore/Bay Shore), who was the 2011 SUNYAC Rookie of the Year, cut the Diplomats lead in half with a goal in the 28th minute, but that would be it for Oneonta in the game.

The final shots were 10-9 in favor of the Diplomats while Oneonta held a slight 6-3 advantage in corner kicks.

The men will open its home schedule this coming Friday at 1pm versus Medaille as play begins in the 2012 Oneonta Mayor's Cup Tournament.  The Red Dragons will also play John Carroll on Saturday at 1pm as part of the three-day event that concludes on Sunday with Div. I men's and Div. III women's action.  The Mayor's Cup returns for its 36th year after last year's tournament was cancelled due to severe flooding throughout the region due to Hurricane Irene and Tropical Storm Lee.