The No. 18 SUNY Oneonta men's soccer team opened its season today at home against a tough Montclair State Red Hawks squad and came away with a 1-1 draw.  The entire second half and the two overtime periods were played in a steady rain, heavy at times.
 
"That was a tough opening opponent and it took us a good twenty minutes to settle into the game," Said Head Coach Iain Byrne.  "I thought we were tremendous in the second half, but all-in-all, it was a fair result."
 
Both goals were scored in the second half within three minutes of each other.  Montclair scored first when they were awarded a penalty kick in the 53^rd minute, which was converted by Jose Huerta.
 
The Montclair goal seemed to wake up the Red Dragons who turned up the attack scoring the equalizer in the 56^th minute.
 
Senior Austin Hughes (Clifton Park/Shenendehowa) controlled a loose ball outside the box on the right side and sent a ball across to the far left post where classmate Nicholas Plate (Miller Place/Sachem North) was able to volley a shot past a stretched out keeper.
 
Oneonta came out with a 17-12 advantage in shots including a 12-4 advantage in the second half.  Both teams managed only one shot each in the two overtime periods.
 
Senior Nicholas Giordano (East Northport/Commack) recorded three saves in goal for Oneonta including a pair of diving stops in the first half.
 
Senior Mike Saalfrank made 11 saves in goal for the Red Hawks with more than a couple diving stops to keep the game tied in the second half.
 
Oneonta will host No. 15 Stevens Institute on Monday beginning at 4pm.