SUNY Oneonta senior Tristan Battistoni (Pleasant Valley/Arlington) and junior Lucas Fecci (Somers/Somers) garnered the top men's soccer honors in the SUNYAC announced today.  Battistoni was named the Fred Holloway Defensive Player of the Year while Fecci was honored as the Huntley Parker Offensive Player of the Year.  The two headline a list that included five more Red Dragons named to the All-Conference Team.
 
Since the SUNYAC split the postseason awards into an Offensive and Defensive Player of the Year, Fecci becomes the third offensive player and Battistoni the fourth defensive player from Oneonta to be honored as the top players respectively.  All-time, including conference and East Division MVP's, the two become the 10^th and 11^th individuals to be selected as the top players in the SUNYAC from Oneonta.
 
Battistoni was named to the All-Conference First Team after having been a Third Team selection in 2019.  He was the leader of the defensive unit that recorded a 0.94 goals against while registering four shutouts.  Battistoni also contributed on the offensive end with three goals and one assist for seven points.
 
"In his four years, Tristan has proven to be a team leader and role model on and off the field," said Head Coach Iain Byrne.  "His leadership over the past two seasons, keeping the team connected through COVID, has been exceptional, and goes to show how highly regarded he is throughout our campus. Tristan has been a captain since his sophomore campaign, and just excelled in every area. This season we moved him inside to center back, and he marshalled a revamped backline with three new starters."
 
Fecci had a breakout season for the Red Dragons this fall to earn his first All-Conference nod as a First Team selection.  He led the team in scoring with 26 points on 11 goals and four assists.  Fecci registered five game-winning goals and scored two goals in three matches this season.
 
"Lucas was recently voted "Player of the Decade" for his high school accomplishments at Section 1 Somers High School," stated Byrne.  "In only his second season at Oneonta, he has now taken the top offensive award in the conference. He is a dynamic forward that has played wide and through the middle this year, and his goals have led us to a top five ranking in the region."
 
Oneonta finished the season with an overall record of 10-3-3 and 6-2-1 in the SUNYAC earning the No. 3 seed in the conference tournament.  The Red Dragons earned an at-large berth into the NCAA Division III men's tournament and will travel to Lancaster, PA this weekend for the opening rounds.  Oneonta will face Middlebury at Franklin and Marshall beginning at 3:30pm.
 
The Red Dragons were in and out of the United Soccer Coaches Div. III coaches poll all season attaining its highest ranking of No. 5 back on Sep. 28^th.