In some of the harshest weather conditions in recent memory, the SUNY Oneonta men's soccer team tallied three times in the first half en route to a 4-0 shutout of Buffalo State in the 2018 SUNYAC Tournament quarterfinals.  Oneonta (10-4-4) will now face rival and top-seeded SUNY Cortland this Wednesday at 3pm on the road with a berth into the conference championship on the line.
 
"The conditions made it extremely difficult today but we stuck at it and came away with a good win against an experienced Buffalo Team," said Head Coach Iain Byrne.  "We got off to a great start with a fortunate wind-assisted goal, and then managed to get a comfortable lead by halftime."
 
The Red Dragons were playing into a gusty wind in the opening half, which actually helped them on its opening goal in the second minute of play.
 
A shot from outside the box by sophomore Roberto Ventura (Brentwood/Brentwood) appeared to be soaring over the goal, but the wind knocked it down where it fell behind the Bengals keeper for an early lead.
 
In the 19^th minute, senior Alejandro Ruiz (Brentwood/Brentwood) made it 2-0 when he was able to finish a play on the goal line off a cross from classmate Justin Cebollero (Commack/Commack).  It looked like the crossing pass deflected off players in front before Ruiz banged it home for his fifth goal of the season.
 
Ventura figured in Oneonta's third goal firing a line drive shot that was saved by the Buffalo State keeper but not controlled.  Freshman Jeremy Pantoni (Goshen/Goshen) was in front of the goal to collect the rebound and send a shot to the back of the goal for his third of the season.
 
The Red Dragons put the game well out of reach early in the second half on a finish by junior Witman Hernandez (Huntington/Walt Whitman).  The scoring opportunity was created by senior Nicholas Plate (Miller Place/Sachem North) who moved the ball into the attacking third before sliding a pass to Hernandez.  Hernandez took one touch past a defender before sending a shot along the ground to the far right corner inside the post.  The goal was Hernandez's team-leading 12^th of the season.
 
Oneonta outshot the Bengals, 19-8, while out-cornering them 6-1.
 
Senior Nicholas Giordano (East Northport/Commack) only had to make one save today to pick up his fifth shutout of the season.
 
If Oneonta gets past Cortland on Wednesday, they will play the winner of the Brockport/New Paltz match also on Wednesday.  The championship game will be at the highest remaining seed next Saturday beginning at 1pm.