The SUNY Oneonta men's soccer team struck for three goals in the first 17 minutes today en route to a comfortable 4-1 victory at home against Fredonia.  The win for the Red Dragons completed a weekend sweep to open the SUNYAC portion of its schedule.  Oneonta is now 5-2-2 overall while the Blue Devils fall to 2-5-1 overall and 0-2 in conference play.
 
"Once again we took advantage of the wind today, which helped us build an early lead," said Head Coach Iain Byrne.  "Whitman had the hat-trick, but Ale was the star man this weekend, as he is settling in at center back adding another long-range goal."
 
Alejandro Ruiz (Brentwood/Brentwood) got things going in the seventh minute on a direct kick.  Ruiz sent a shot over the wall and past the Fredonia keeper from five yards outside the box.
 
The next three goals belonged to junior Whitman Hernandez helping Oneonta grab a 4-0 lead heading into halftime.
 
Hernandez's first goal came off an assist from senior Austin Hughes (Clifton Park/Shenendehowa), who broke into the box before sliding a pass to Hernandez before he finished it off with a shot just inside the left post.
 
Hughes figured in the next goal as well with a hard shot from outside the box that skipped off Hernandez's shoulder changing the flight just enough to get by the keeper.
 
Continuing to attack, Hernandez's final goal was started by senior Nichols Plate who headed a clearing pass back into the box where sophomore Roberto Ventura (Brentwood/Brentwood) controlled it before shuffling a pass to Hernandez for the finish.  Hernandez's shot actually deflected up off a defender but had enough steam to bounce over the goal line and into the net.
 
Freshman Jeremy Pantoni (Goshen/Goshen) capped the scoring for the Red Dragons in the 83^rd minute when he chipped a crossing pass from classmate Matt Howe (Hopewell Junction/John Jay) over the keeper.  Pantoni's goal was the first of his collegiate career while the assist by Howe was his first of his career.
 
Fredonia's lone goal came in the first two minutes of the second half on a restart.  The play started from about 45 yards out by Jackson Retzer, who took the kick.  Just outside the box, Conrad Rathbun was able to get a touch on the ball which slipped past the Oneonta defense to Domenic Monti, who finished the play.
 
Senior Nick Lindovski (Baldwinsville/Baldwinsville) made four saves to pick up the win in goal for Oneonta.
 
Next up for Oneonta is rival SUNY Cortland this Friday, Sep. 28 at home beginning at 4pm.

Goal Highlights from today's game