Box Score

The SUNY Oneonta field hockey team kept the fans in the stands until the end today as senior Suzanne Wright (Hudson/Germantown Central) knocked home a rebound with 31 seconds remaining in regulation to lift Oneonta to a 1-0 win against SUNY Cortland.  The win for the host was its first against its rival since October 1992 a string of 22 straight games without a victory.

“I can't even describe my emotions,” said head coach Kelly Kingsbury after the game.  “I am so proud of this team.  They wanted this game so bad and they worked hard to earn this win.”

Last season the two teams battled each other twice, with both games going into overtime including one that went to strokes before a winner was decided.  The second meeting last year was in the SUNYAC championship game.  The two teams may meet again in November with another NCAA bid on the line.

Oneonta (5-2/2-0 SUNYAC) is now atop the conference standing with the victory and they play tomorrow at home versus Oswego beginning at 1pm.  Tomorrow's game is also Oneonta's “Passionately Pink for the Cure,” which is its breast cancer awareness game.  The Red Dragons will be raising money for the Susan G. Komen fund, which supports life saving research, education, screening and treatment programs.

Fans who attend tomorrow's game are encouraged to wear pink.  Oneonta will be sporting pink game jerseys for the game.  If you would like to make a donation to the team, please visit http://www.info-komen.org/site/TR/PassionatelyPink/HeadquartersSite?pg=team&fr_id=2659&team_id=209804

The final shots for the game were nine for Oneonta and seven for Cortland (1-3/0-1 SUNYAC).  The game was played evenly throughout as both teams moved the ball up-and-down the field.  The defenses and goalies were up to the task.  Tess Tracy (Liverpool/Liverpool) finished the game with four saves while her counterpart Amanda Perricone had five saves.

The game-winner for Oneonta came on a play started by sophomore Chelsea Remling (Mahopac/Lakeland), who was able to dribble into the circle before getting off a shot that was saved by Perricone.  On the rebound, Wright was able to get a shot off that Perricone was trying to clear to the side, but the ball went straight to the back of the goal.

Cortland had one final attack, which produced a shot by senior Sara Woodward, but Tracy kicked it out and the clock ran out on a free hit by Oneonta.

“Today was a total team effort,” said senior captain Ashley Johnson (Saratoga Springs/Saratoga Springs).  “We wanted this game so bad and we finally put it together.  We have been so close the past few years and it feels great my senior year to finally do it.”