The No. 4 SUNY Oneonta men's soccer team closed out the SUNYAC regular season today with a home, 2-0, victory against Buffalo State.  With the victory, the Red Dragons claimed the regular season conference title for the fourth time in the last five years.  They also finished unbeaten in SUNYAC play for the second straight year, as the Red Dragons extended its conference unbeaten streak in the regular season to 21 games.  The Red Dragons are 18-0-3 over that span.
 
"I've always felt that the regular season standings are a true indication of a team's quality," said head coach Iain Byrne after the game.  "On any given day in a tournament match even the best teams can get upset, but over the course of nine regular season games the first place team is on top because of merit."
 
Today's game was a mere formality, as Oneonta (15-0-2) controlled the play from the opening whistle.  Junior Jake Sutherland (Syracuse/West Genesee) got things started early with the first of his two goals just 45 seconds into the match.  The goal came on a corner kick off a service from the right flag by classmate Greg Silvestro (West Sayville/Connetquot).  The ball cleared the defense and Sutherland was in a perfect spot to head the ball into the left corner of the goal.
 
Oneonta, who outshot Buffalo State 24-4 in the match, scored its second goal in the 50^th minute on Sutherland's sixth goal of the season.  Sutherland made an outstanding individual play, as he dribbled through two defenders before sending a low shot by an outstretched keeper into the lower left corner.
 
Oneonta has earned the top seed once again for the SUNYAC tournament, which begins Saturday, Nov. 1 with opening round games.  Oneonta will play its first conference tournament match on Wednesday, Nov. 5 versus the winner of the SUNY Geneseo/SUNY Potsdam game on Nov. 1.
 
Byrne concluded, "This has been another successful campaign playing a great brand of attacking soccer and we look forward to hosting the conference tournament."
 
Oneonta concludes its regular season this Tuesday at home when they host Scranton for its makeup game from Oct. 15.  The game is scheduled for a 3pm start.

For photos from today's game go to:
Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/OStateMensSoccer?fref=ts
 
Follow men's soccer on Twitter: @OneontaSoccer