The SUNY Oneonta men's lacrosse team lost a heartbreaker in overtime to Misericordia, 9-8, in the season opener for both squads.  Junior Phil Fraher maneuvered from behind the goal and managed to get a shot off as he was falling to the ground that found the back of the goal with 1:03 left in overtime. The game-winner was the first time that the Cougars were ahead the whole game battling back from a three-goal deficit in the final quarter-and-a-half.
 
Oneonta was led in the game by junior Hunter DeLuca (Medford/Patchogue Medford)'s three goals while classmate AJ Solomito and sophomore Jimmy Kickel (South Setauket/Ward Melville) each added a pair of goals.
 
Both goalies were solid between the pipes today.  Sophomore Andrew Helfman (Moorestown, NJ/Moorestown) recorded 15 saves while his counterpart, Matthew Beck, made 13 saves for Misericordia.
 
The Red Dragons jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the opening three minutes of the game on goals by junior TJ Kilmetis (Hicksville/Hicksville) and Solomito.  Kilmetis also added an assist of Solomito's goal.
 
After a goal by Patrick DeMichele cut the lead in half, DeLuca netted his first of the game off an assist by freshman Jake Loeb (Cross River/John Jay Cross River).
 
DeLuca scored his second of the game with 1:44 remaining in the first quarter to give Oneonta a 4-2 lead heading to the second quarter.
 
Each team scored an unassisted goal in the second quarter to account for the only scoring in the quarter, as the Red Dragons went into the break with a 5-3 lead.
 
Solomito and Kickel sandwiched goals between a pair by sophomore Brandon Winslow in the third quarter.  Oneonta carried its two-goal advantage into the final quarter of play.
 
Junior Chris Fleming scored off an assist from Winslow to bring the Cougars to within 7-6.  After DeLuca's final goal of the game at 6:25, Winslow struck again followed off the faceoff by Jake Kocovsky eight seconds later to tie the game at eight apiece with 3:41 remaining in regulation.
 
Both teams worked for the winner in regulation, but couldn't find the back of the net sending the game to overtime.
 
Oneonta will be back at Vassar on Wednesday for a nonconference tilt beginning at 7pm.