Junior
Jess Downin (Franklin/Franklin Central) was in the right place at the right time to head a ball into the back of the goal in the 109
th minute to lift the SUNY Oneonta women's soccer team to a 2-1 victory against SUNY Potsdam. The win for the Red Dragons extended its current winning streak to seven games while moving them into the semifinals of the SUNYAC tournament. Oneonta's next match will be this coming Wednesday versus top-seeded SUNY Geneseo at 1pm.
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Downin's goal came as time was running down in the second overtime period. The play started when senior
Emily Opalinski (East Amherst/Williamsville East) sent a shot in on goal off a direct kick from about 30 yards out. Opalinski's shot looked like it was going to make it over the Potsdam keeper's head, but she was able to bat the ball back into play. Downin then cleaned up the rebound to end the game. The goal for Downin was her fourth in the last six games and her third game-winner of the season.
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The two teams battled to a 1-1 tie through the first half of play while being even in shots at five apiece.
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Potsdam (12-6-2) broke a scoreless tie in the 21
st minute with the game's opening goal. Lexi Dean took a pass into the box from Brooke Falsion before putting a shot in the upper right corner of the goal.
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Freshman
Micaela Honsinger (New Hartford/New Hartford) scored the equalizer for Oneonta (8-9-1) in the 33
rd minute. She was in the right spot to collect a loose ball in front of the goal after a shot by classmate
Jennifer Kinsley (Washingtonville/Washingtonville) rebounded off the cross bar. The goal was Honsinger's fourth of the season.
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The momentum of the game began to shift towards Oneonta in the latter part of the second half, which carried into the overtime sessions. The Red Dragons earned 10 corner kicks for the game including eight over the second half and overtimes.
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Delphine Leonard kept the Bears even and finished the game with seven saves. Oneonta keeper
Melissa Muller (Holbrook/Sachem North) earned her sixth win of the season making four saves in goal.
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In the regular season match between Oneonta and Geneseo, the Knights edged the Red Dragons 3-2 in overtime.
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