A goal in the 103^rd minute off a corner kick by senior Jeff Hibbard lifted the visiting Brockport Golden Eagles to a stunning 3-2 win today against No. 6 SUNY Oneonta in men's soccer action.  The loss for the Red Dragons halted its winning streak at seven games while giving them its first SUNYAC loss of the season.  The win for the Golden Eagles raised its record to 7-6-1 overall and 2-4-1 in conference play.
 
"Every conference game is a battled," said Head Coach Iain Byrne.  "We had our fair share of possession and chances.  Give Brockport credit, they were behind twice and came back to win the game."
 
The Inside Story
The game-winner for Hibbard was his 6^th of the year and second of the game.  Hibbard tied the game in the first half after converting a penalty kick for the Golden Eagles.  Hibbard's goal came off the service of a corner kick where Oneonta keeper Nate Hanna (Baldwinsville/C.W. Baker) attempted to punch the ball out but deflected off an Oneonta defender and over the goal line to end the game.
 
The corner kick for Brockport came on a counter-attack after Oneonta freshman Lucas Fecci (Somers/Somers) was denied from close range by Golden Eagles keeper Tautis Ponsikaitis at the other end just 17 seconds earlier.
 
The Red Dragons certainly carried the play in today's game generating numerous scoring opportunities.  Oneonta nearly ended the game in the first three minutes of the first overtime period on back-to-back opportunities by sophomore Matt Howe (Hopewell Junction/John Jay) and junior Roberto Ventura (Brentwood/Brentwood).  Howe had a shot inside the top of the box that Ponsikaitis made a diving stop on in the 92^nd minute while Ventura hit the crossbar in the 93^rd minute.
 
Oneonta scored the game's opening goal in the 17^th minute of play when senior Witman Hernandez (Huntington/Walt Whitman) scored his SUNYAC-leading 14^th goal of the season.  Hernandez took a pass into the left side of the box from freshman Ethan Brunell (Clifton Park/Shenendehowa) before blasting a shot by Ponsikaitis.
 
Brockport evened the score seven minutes later on Hibbard's penalty kick.  The two teams entered halftime knotted at one goal apiece.
 
Back-to-back saves by Hanna gave Oneonta a counter opportunity that they didn't waste in the 73^rd minute.  Hernandez carried the ball down the center of the field into the box before sliding a pass to his left to Fecci.  Fecci took one touch to clear a Brockport defender and got the ball to his right foot where he finished the play with a shot to the back of the goal giving the Red Dragons a 2-1 advantage.
 
The Golden Eagles wouldn't lay down as they made the most of an opportunity in the 82^nd minute.  A ball that made its way across from the right flank to the left flank was collected by Brett Healey.  Healey made a move by a defender and fired a shot that appeared to be heading over the goal.  The ball somehow caught the underneath part of the crossbar and deflected down and to the right where it trickled over the goal line to tie the score at 2-2.
 
Brockport had the final two opportunities in the final two minutes of regulation where one was saved by Hanna and the second was blocked.
 
Just the Stats
Oneonta held a 21-13 shot advantage including a 6-1 edge in the overtime periods.  The Red Dragons had a clear 15-4 advantage in corner kicks including 11-1 in the second half.  Ponsikaitis finished with seven saves in the match while Hanna recorded four stops.
 
What's Next
Oneonta will host Geneseo tomorrow afternoon at Red Dragon Field beginning at 1pm.