The SUNY Oneonta men's soccer team did something today that had only been accomplished once previous and that is completing an unbeaten regular season.  Today, the Red Dragons shutout visiting Scranton, 3-0, to finish the regular season 16-0-2.  The victory was also Oneonta's ninth straight, as they now rest for a week in preparation for its SUNYAC semifinal next Wednesday at home against the winner of the SUNY Potsdam/SUNY Geneseo quarterfinal game on Saturday.  The game is scheduled for a 1pm start.
 
"Today was another impressive performance," said head coach Iain Byrne after the game.  "Defensively we kept another clean sheet while up front we were always a threat to score."
 
The only other team to complete an unbeaten regular season was the 1973 squad that came through at 12-0-2.  That season ended with a loss in the opening round of the NCAA tournament.  The 1971 team is the only team to finish the season without a loss, as they went 11-0.
 
The game was still scoreless entering the latter part of the first half until a pair of goals by Oneonta in the final six minutes gave them a 2-0 advantage at the break.
 
The first goal came after junior Greg Silvestro (West Sayville/Connetquot) slotted a perfect pass to classmate Dylan Williams (Monroe/Monroe-Woodbury), who redirected a shot to the lower right corner of the goal.  For Williams, it was his seventh goal of the season.
 
"Ever since our Barcelona trip it just seems that our team has been clicking," said Williams.  "This year's team is very deep including our freshmen, who have contributed to our success.  We never have to rely on just one guy and I think that has really helped us solidify such a great regular season.  Now it's time to really get focused and see how far of a run our team can make."
 
Freshman Cory Santangelo (Sayville/Sayville) continued his impressive rookie campaign with his team-leading 11^th goal of the season right before halftime.  Classmate Brandon Arango (Ronkonkoma/Sachem North) played a ball into the box from the right flank that deflected off a couple of Scranton defenders.  Santangelo collected the loose ball and put a ball about halfway up the left side of the goal just inside the post.
 
Oneonta's final goal came in the 77^th minute on a perfectly executed corner kick.  Silvestro served a perfect ball from the right flag to the back post where junior Jared Van Brunt (Sayville/Sayville) was waiting.  Van Brunt got his head on it and put it into the back of the goal.
 
The shutout today for the Red Dragons was its fourth straight and its 12^th of the season, which added to its single season record.  Senior Vincent Pellegrino (Baldwin/Baldwin) didn't have to make a save in running his record to 12-0-1.  Pellegrino has also collected nine shutouts this season.
 
Byrne concluded, "To go through the regular season undefeated brings back memories of some of the great Oneonta teams of the past.  The boys have earned a rest with a bye weekend then we will begin our preparation for the SUNYAC tournament."
 
Photos from today's game are posted on the team's Facebook page
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