The SUNY Oneonta women's soccer team punched in a pair of goals and then held off a late charge by rival SUNY Cortland today to grab a 2-1 victory in SUNYAC action.  The win for Oneonta (6-1-1/2-0 SUNYAC) was its fourth straight while snapping Cortland's (5-4/1-1 SUNYAC) modest two-game win streak.
 
"It was a great weekend for us to start with a pair of conference wins at home," said Head Coach Liz McGrail.  "I am proud of the way we are playing right now.  We have been working on our formation and style and it's nice to see them execute on the field."
 
In the game, the two teams combined for 16 shots, as both defenses were solid.  Cortland ended the game with a 10-6 overall advantage with the final four shots coming in the final four minutes of the match.
 
Oneonta scored its first goal in the 26^th minute on a corner kick.  Sophomore Emily Opalinski (East Amherst /Williamsville East ), who scored a pair of goals in yesterday's win against Oswego, including on a corner, served a perfect ball to the front of the goal where senior Erica Berry (Bellmore/Kellenberg Memorial) got her head on it to push it into the top of the goal.  The goal was Berry's first of the year.
 
"Emily has been solid for us in the early going," commented McGrail.  "As a defender, to contribute the way she did for us this weekend, was a huge boost for us."
 
As has been the case in recent games, Oneonta came out in attack mode to start the second half.  The pressure paid off once again with a goal in the first four minutes.
 
The rare goalkeeper assist led to the second goal for the hosts.  Senior Rori Stark (Brewster/Brewster) punted the ball that sailed about 65 yards where it bounced up in the air.  Collecting the ball was rookie Jess Downin (Franklin/Franklin Central), who then raced into the box with a defender on her shoulder before chipping a shot over the keeper.  For Downin, it was her third goal of the year.
 
The pace was frantic in the final seven minutes where Cortland took some momentum and turned up the attack themselves.  They made the game interesting when they punched one in to cut the lead to 2-1 in the 85^th minute.  Freshman Vanessa Romero was able to shake loose inside the box and get a shot off that was saved by Stark, but trickled away.  Classmate Mel Cardillo was there to collect the loose ball where she pushed it past a diving defender.
 
Stark and classmate, Kelley Murphy (Albany/Colonie Central), split time in goal today for Oneonta.  Murphy made one save and picked up the win while Stark finished the game with three saves.
 
Oneonta will be on the road for the next two conference weekends beginning next Friday at Brockport.
 
McGrail concluded, "We have a lot of depth and we stress our fitness, which we use to our advantage.  There isn't a drop off when our subs enter the game, as they have shown that they are just as dangerous as the starters."