ONEONTA, N.Y. -- Seniors Ian Zingaro (Liverpool, N.Y./Liverpool) and Lucas Fecci (Somers, N.Y./Somers) found the net in the first half and gave the SUNY Oneonta men's soccer team an early lead to defeat Hamilton College, 2-1, Tuesday afternoon. The Red Dragons closed out the regular season with a 12-2-2 record and the Continentals finished with a record of 8-3-4.
 
"That was a really hard game," said Head Coach Iain Byrne. "Once we got the second, Hamilton controlled a lot of the ball, but we managed to hang on for the win." 

Hamilton had the first opportunity in the contest at 9:27 when Charles Hawthorn took a shot on net, but senior Nate Hanna (Baldwinsville, N.Y./C.W. Baker) made the easy save. Oneonta made it a 1-0 game when they got on the board in the 16th minute. Zingaro got the ball at midfield and passed in front of him to Fecci who tapped it to junior Robert Bruschini (Wilton, N.Y./South Glens Falls). Bruschini sent a lead pass into the penalty box to Zingaro for his second goal of the season. In the 33rd minute, the Red Dragons were trying to create space for another goal. At the top corner of the penalty box, junior Richard Portogallo (Massapequa, N.Y./Massapequa) passed to sophomore Derek Marques (Somers, N.Y./Somers) who passed it back towards midfield to Zingaro. Zingaro passed to the near sideline to freshman Milton Mancias Magana (Mamaroneck, N.Y./Mamaroneck). From 25 yards out, Mancias Magana sent a centering pass to the six-yard box for a diving Fecci to score with a header. The goal was Fecci's 10th of the season and Mancias Magana's seventh assist, as Oneonta went into halftime with a 2-0 lead. 

The Continentals started strong in the second half and made it a one goal game a minute in. Hamilton's Luke Peplowski received a short corner kick and sent in a centering pass that hopped past an Oneonta defender's leg to Sam Meyerowitz, who had a narrow gap eight yards out for the goal. As Coach Byrne mentioned, the Continentals started to control the ball more during the second half and continued to create shot opportunities to try and tie the match. At 56:59, Meyerowitz had a chance for his second of the day, but Hanna was there for the stop. Jude Rouhana had a couple moments in the 64th and 88th minute, however Hanna saved them both and kept the lead for the Red Dragons as the clock finally reached 90. 

Hanna finished with four saves and Hamilton's Ben Ziegler ended with one.  

The Continentals had the advantage on shots, 11-5, and corner kicks, 5-2.  

The Red Dragons are back in action Wednesday, November 2nd, when they host the winner of New Paltz and Plattsburgh in the SUNYAC semifinal at 1 pm.   Read Full Article