A Quick Look
SUNY Oneonta senior
Witman Hernandez (Huntington/Walt Whitman) scored a pair of goals while adding one assist today in leading the Red Dragons to a 4-1 win at home against Hamilton. The No. 18 Red Dragons are now 7-1 overall on the season while the Continentals fall to 1-5.
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"The game turned within a few minutes in the first half," said Head Coach
Iain Byrne. "Frank (Scotti) saved their penalty and then a few minutes later Birdie scored ours to put us up 3-0."
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With the five points for Hernandez today, he became only the fifth player in the nearly 65-year history of men's soccer to eclipse the 100-point barrier the first since 2007. After today, Hernandez has 101 career points.
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"As long as we have Witman, we have a chance in any game," Byrne commented. "We will be wrapping him in cotton wool in between games."
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The Inside Story
Oneonta put this game out of reach by halftime scoring its four goals in the opening 45n minutes. Hernandez got things started in the seventh minute when he took a touch pass from sophomore
Jeremy Pantoni (Goshen/Goshen) before converting the game's first goal. Twenty-one minutes later, Hernandez stole a pass in front of the Hamilton goal and pushed a shot past the keeper to put the Red Dragons ahead by two.
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In the 36
th minute, junior
Roberto Ventura (Brentwood/Brentwood) converted a penalty kick for his first goal of the season. Ventura's goal came after keeper
Francesco Scotti (Commack/Commack) stopped a penalty kick on the other end just four minutes earlier.
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Freshman
Lucas Fecci (Somers/Somers) notched his third collegiate goal in the final minute of the half giving Oneonta a 4-0 lead.
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The Continentals' lone goal came in the 62
nd minute when Sam Dils scored his first of the season off an assist from Jeff Pump.
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Just the Stats
Oneonta finished the game with 16 shots including 11 in the first half. Hamilton collected 13 shots and four corner kicks. Scotti finished the game with four saves while Hamilton keeper Thomas Benson made three stops.
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What's Next
Oneonta will open SUNYAC play this Saturday at home against New Paltz beginning at 2pm.
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