It appeared from the opening whistle that the SUNY Oneonta men's soccer team was determined to let nothing stand its way of getting back to the NCAA Division III national championship weekend.  When the final whistle sounded, the Red Dragons had overpowered Brandeis, 3-0, to win the sectional championship.  The victory earned the Red Dragons a trip to Kansas City, Mo in two weeks to play for a national title.
 
"Another great game," said coach Byrne afterwards.  "Brandeis is a quality team and a classy group of men.  It was a physical game and I thought we controlled the tempo of the game."
 
As has been the case all year long Oneonta (21-0-2) came out attacking, putting Brandeis on their heels early.  In the third minute, sophomore Hans Purtell (Johnson City/Johnson City) played a cross from the left flank that ended up on the head of senior Justin Rivera (Bay Shore/Bay Shore) at the left post.  Rivera sent the ball across the front of the goal where junior Jake Sutherland (Syracuse/West Genesee) just missed getting a foot on it.
 
Five minutes later, it was Sutherland who gave Oneonta a 1-0 lead.  Classmate Dylan Williams (Monroe/Monroe-Woodbury) made a great through pass to Sutherland who was able to get a touch on it and break free from his defender.  Once he had control of the ball, Sutherland slid a shot between the legs of Brandeis keeper Joe Graffy.  It was Sutherland's 11 goal of the season and his second straight game-winning goal.  He leads the team with seven game-winners this season.
 
"When we score early we are that much more dangerous," commented Williams.
 
Dangerous they were.  The Red Dragons could have easily added a couple more goals to their ledger, but had to settle for a 1-0 lead at halftime.
 
Byrne stated, "I thought we were tremendous in the first half.  We brought the game to them.  When we scored the second goal we instinctively sat back and defended, but then the third goal came and the game was in hand."
 
Brandeis didn't record its first shot on goal until 30^th minute when Michael Soboff had a shot that was saved by Oneonta keeper Vincent Pellegrino (Baldwin/Baldwin).  Pellegrino finished the match with five saves, while adding to his single season shutout record with his 13^th blanking of the season.  He also raised his record to 17-0-1.
 
Brandeis asserted itself early in the opening minutes of the second half and nearly got the equalizer in the 49^th minute.  Josh Ocel rifled a shot from outside the right top of the box that Pellegrino didn't move on, as it looked like it was sailing wide.  The ball actually caught the right post square and rattled the goal before being cleared by the Oneonta defense.
 
On the ensuing counter attack, Oneonta made it 2-0 on a goal by junior Greg Silvestro (West Sayville/Connetquot).  Freshman Cory Santangelo (Sayville/Sayville) created the play when he was able to hold up the ball outside the box to the right.  He ended up chipping a pass into the box that looked like it was going to Sutherland, but the ball went past him, as he shielded off a defender.  Silvestro, who was unmarked, finished the play with a shot to the upper left 90.
 
"We created some opportunities today, but didn't convert," said Brandeis coach Mike Coven.  "The game of soccer can be that way, where the goals don't happen.  We gave the ball away a couple of times and they took advantage of them."
 
Coven continued, "Oneonta is a great team.  We play a tough schedule and they are the best team we faced this year.  They are a classy team and I hope they win the whole thing."
 
Brandeis continued to counter, as they looked to get on the scoreboard.  The Judges' last flurry of chances came over a 10-minute stretch between the 58^th and 68^th minutes.  Ocel had a shot in the 66^th minute that Pellegrino punched over the goal.
 
The final goal for Oneonta came in the 76^th minute and was a result of one of Brandeis' miscues.  Rivera was the recipient of the miscue as he collected a loose ball after the defense failed to clear the ball from the box.  Rivera sent a shot to the back of the goal from about 15 yards out, and it sailed by Graffy, who was out of position.
 
The final numbers from the game were 11 shots each and eight corners apiece.  The only difference was that nine of Oneonta's 11 shots were on frame while only five of Brandeis' were on goal.
 
Oneonta will make the journey back to the championship weekend for the second time in the last four years.  The 2011 team made the program's first Division III appearance in the final four.  Their opponent will be the Wheaton (Ill) Thunder, winners of their sectional yesterday against Trinity (TX) by a score of 2-1.  The two schools will be meeting for the first time.
 
The third school that earned the trip is Tufts University, who knocked off defending national champion Messiah, 1-0 in their sectional final today.  Messiah was the only other unbeaten team in Division III besides Oneonta.
 
The fourth participant won't be known until after tomorrow's last sectional final game between Christopher Newport and Ohio Wesleyan.  That game is at Calvin scheduled for a 1pm kickoff.
 
Williams stated, "This has been our goal from Day 1.  We are playing with so much confidence right now."
 
Byrne concluded, "It's been an incredible ride and there has never been a more deserving group of boys.  They have been a joy to work with and they believe that they can win it all."