A Quick Look
Sophomore Jeremy Pantoni (Goshen/Goshen) scored early in the second half to lead the nationally 11th-ranked SUNY Oneonta men's soccer team to a 1-0 victory over its rival Cortland in SUNYAC action Saturday afternoon at Holloway Field.  The win for Oneonta was its seventh straight and raised its overall record to 12-1 while remaining perfect in the SUNYAC at 5-0.  The loss dropped Cortland to 6-4-2 overall and 2-2-1 in the conference.
 
"Our backs were to the wall in the second half defending the lead," said Head Coach Iain Byrne.  "We managed to hold out for the win.  We had four freshmen and four sophomores in the starting lineup today, so the future looks bright for us."
 
The Inside Story
Each team created several quality scoring chances throughout the game, but Oneonta keeper, freshman Nate Hanna (Baldwinsville/C.W. Baker) and Cortland keeper, Braden Melveney each made multiple big saves. In the 15th minute, Hanna denied a clean header by Cortland freshman Lukas Kokkola on a corner kick. In the 23rd minute, Melveney made a diving save at the near post on a shot by Oneonta senior Witman Hernandez (Huntington/Walt Whitman). Cortland had one more first-half opportunity on a 25-yard shot by senior Miguel Tunas, but Hanna punched the ball over the crossbar.
 
The game's only goal came in the 49^th minute for Pantoni. After an initial shot was blocked in the box, Melveney turned aside a shot by Pantoni. The ball rebounded back to him, and he knocked a shot into the open goal for his third of the season.
 
Cortland created the next two chances. In the 60th minute, junior Nick Pfeiffer struck a 20-yard shot that deflected off a defender and just wide right. In the 70th minute, senior Nevin Nambiar hit the crossbar on a loose ball in the box.
 
Oneonta challenged to make it a 2-0 game in the 72nd minute, but Melveney made a diving save at the left post on a header by Oneonta freshman Lucas Fecci (Somers/Somers).
 
The host Red Dragons had one more good chance to net the equalizer in the 74^th minute on a free kick by Tunas, but the ball sailed just over the crossbar.  In the 83rd minute, Melveney made another outstanding save on a Fecci header to keep it a 1-0. Cortland pressured in the closing minutes but could not score the game-tying goal.
 
Just the Stats
Oneonta was outshot in the match 19-15.  Nine of Oneonta's shots were on frame while only seven of Cortland's found the frame.  Hanna raised his record to 7-0 overall making seven saves to also pick up his fourth shutout of the season.  Melveney made a career-high eight saves for the host Red Dragons.
 
What's Next
Oneonta will close out the SUNYAC schedule and regular season with four home games over the next two weekends.  Their first opponent will be Brockport this Friday, Oct. 18^th beginning at 3pm.