Today, the SUNY Oneonta men's soccer team made it a bit more interesting but, in the end, prevailed to move on to the Elite 8 of the NCAA tournament.  The Red Dragons spotted Franklin and Marshall a goal before rebounding with a pair of scores in a 2-1 victory.  Oneonta (20-0-2) remained one of only two unbeaten teams in Division III while reaching 20 wins for the first time in the history of the program.
 
Oneonta will play tomorrow afternoon at 1pm with a trip to the national championship weekend in Kansas City, Mo. on the line.  The Elite 8 appearance for the Red Dragons is its second in the last four years.  In 2011, Oneonta advanced to San Antonio, Tx after defeating Rutgers-Camden in the national quarterfinals played at St. Lawrence University.
 
"What a game," said Oneonta coach Iain Byrne.  "The surface made it an attacker's game and it must have been great to watch.  We missed some opportunities in the first 20 minutes that could have given us a lead.  The guys kept pushing forward and didn't get down after falling behind one nil."
 
Today's hero was junior Jake Sutherland (Syracuse/West Genesee), who scored his team leading sixth game-winning goal of the season.  Oneonta was continuing to pressure the F&M defense, as they looked to get the go-ahead goal.  In the 77^th minute Sutherland came through when a harmless crossing pass ended up being deflected off a defender's foot and continued to the back of the goal past a diving Trevor Britton, who was caught off guard by the deflection.
 
"The footing was tough today," said Sutherland.  "With the field being frozen it was tough to finish on opportunities.  I was trying to get the ball to the front of the goal and I got a favorable deflection."
 
Both teams went right at each other to start the second half, as the intensity increased early on.
 
F&M (16-2-3) finally broke the scoreless tie in the 55^th minute on a play set up by Bomba.  Bomba was able to break free on the left flank and moved right to goal where he got a shot off that Vincent Pellegrino (Baldwin/Baldwin) made a diving save on.  On the ensuing rebound that came off the Pellegrino's left, a charging Ben Draheim got a shot off that went just inside the left post to the back of the net.
 
The one-goal deficit was the first time Oneonta trailed in a game since Oct. 10 against SUNY Potsdam and only the second time all season they were behind.
 
"After they scored I began to think it wasn't going to be our day," said coach Iain Byrne.  The goal came right after Jake missed an open net."
 
The Red Dragons turned up the pressure and got the equalizer in the 66^th minute.  Rivera broke free on the right flank and sent a cross into the box where freshman Cory Santangelo (Sayville/Sayville) was able to get his left foot on it to redirect it past Britton.  The goal was Santangelo's 14^th of the season.
 
"Field Conditions were tough and required a lot of adjustments," said F&M coach Dan Wagner.  "We pulled many of our starters to adjust to a lineup that was more conducive to the field conditions."
 
Most of the opening half belonged to Oneonta, as they generated more opportunities, but couldn't sneak one past F&M keeper, Trevor Britton.
 
In the seventh minute, senior Mitchell Cain (Marcy/Whitesboro) had an opportunity set up by junior Dylan Williams (Monroe/Monroe-Woodbury), who broke down the left flank.  Cain's shot from inside the box sailed just wide.  Less than two minutes later, Williams broke in after senior Justin Rivera (Bay Shore/Bay Shore) sent a pass from midfield.  His shot went high.
 
Williams had two more opportunities including being in alone on Britton in the 19^th minute.  Britton came charging out and was able to make the save, as he kicked the ball away.
 
The first real threat for F&M came in the 28^th minute when senior Jared Bomba broke free and sent a shot wide left.  Minutes later a shot by senior David Rosenfeld was just wide.
 
In the final four minutes of the half, F&M generated a pair of scoring chances, including one by sophomore Conor Pellas that was just wide of the left post on a redirect of a cross from Bomba.
 
F&M coach Dan Wagner concluded, "Oneonta has a very good team that brought a boisterous crowd.  I am proud of our seniors.  Elite 8 last year and Sweet 16 this year.  The best group I have had and one of the best in conference history."