ONEONTA, N.Y. -- A second half free kick was the difference maker as the 14th-ranked SUNY Oneonta men's soccer team fell to Geneseo 1-0, Saturday afternoon. With the first loss of the season, the Red Dragons are now 7-1-1 overall and 2-1 in the SUNYAC, while the Knights are 7-3-1 overall and 1-1 in conference play. 

In the first half, both teams let one another know that it was going to be a physical battle, limiting shot opportunities throughout the match. Senior Ethan Brunell (Clifton Park, N.Y./Shenendehowa) and freshman Milton Mancias Magana (Mamaroneck, N.Y./Mamaroneck) had shots on net early but were stopped by Vincent Maronski. Geneseo's Tyler Lewandowski was the only Knight to get a shot on net in the first half, only to be saved by Senior Nate Hanna (Baldwinsville, N.Y./C.W. Baker).
 
Early in the 54th minute, Geneseo scored the game's only goal. Geneseo's Stefen Nikolic stole the ball at midfield and was about to run by the lone Oneonta defender, graduate student Tristan Battistoni (Pleasant Valley, N.Y./Arlington), for an open look at net until Battistoni fouled him just outside the penalty area. The Knights Joe Vogt took the ensuing free kick and kicked it underneath the jumping Red Dragons' five-man wall for a goal.  

Geneseo played the rest of the match slow and conservative to eat up as much clock as possible. Oneonta had a few opportunities to tie it with shots from Mancias Magana, and juniors John Bernardi (Mahopac, N.Y./Mahopac) and Robert Bruschini (Wilton, N.Y./South Glens Falls), but Maronski made the saves. 

Hanna finished the game with three saves and Maronski ended with seven saves. 

The Red Dragons had the slight favor in shots, 11-9 and corner kicks, 5-2.   

Oneonta returns to action Wednesday when they host Potsdam at 4 pm.   Read Full Article