Junior
Witman Hernandez (Huntington/Walt Whitman) scored four times today to lead the SUNY Oneonta men's soccer team to a 7-1 road victory at Potsdam today in SUNYAC action. Hernandez's outburst made him the 13
th player in program history to record the feat and the first since 2009. Hernandez also added an assist to give him nine points in the match making him only the fourth player in program history to reach that mark, the first since 1986.
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"We played well today," stated Head Coach
Iain Byrne. "The early goals settled us down. Congrats to Witman on his four goals and to freshman
Matt Howe (Hopewell Junction/John Jay), who scored his first collegiate goal."
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Hernandez got Oneonta (8-3-4, 5-1-2 SUNYAC) off running in the second minute of the match scoring off an assist from classmate
Nick Dillmann (Fishkill/John Jay).
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Dillmann would add two more assists in the match, which made him the ninth player in program history to record three helpers in a game. He matched teammate
Nicholas Plate (Miller Place/Sachem North) who recorded three assists last season against Hamilton.
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Potsdam (4-9-1, 0-7 SUNYAC) tied the score in the tenth minute on an unassisted goal by Justin Crovetto.
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The Red Dragons regained the lead for good just over one minute later when Hernandez scored his second of the match this time assisted by freshman
Jeremy Pantoni (Goshen/Goshen).
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Hernandez would have his assist on the next goal by sophomore
Scott Cebollero (Commack/Commack) who scored in the 29
th minute to give Oneonta a 3-1 lead heading into halftime.
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The Red Dragons continued to pile up the goals scoring its final four goals in a span of 16 minutes in the second half. Senior
Alejandro Ruiz (Brentwood/Brentwood) started the barrage with a goal in the 52
nd minute off an assist from Plate. Hernandez capped his day with the next two goals in the 62
nd and 64
th minutes with an assist by Dillmann on the first one. Freshman
Matt Howe (Hopewell Junction/John Jay) scored his first collegiate goal in the 68
th minute with an assist from Dillmann.
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Oneonta will return home for the first time three weeks when they host Sage College on Tuesday beginning at 3pm.
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