AMHERST, MA -- The SUNY Oneonta men's soccer season came to a close Saturday afternoon with a 3-1 loss to Bowdoin in the Sweet Sixteen of the NCAA DIII Tournament. The Red Dragons ended the season 15-3-3, were ranked first in Region III, and won the SUNYAC Tournament. 

"The last loss is always the toughest when it ends your season," said Head Coach Iain Byrne. "We fought hard, but defensively we just weren't sharp enough."  

Senior Lucas Fecci (Somers, N.Y./Somers) scored his 14th goal of the season, and the Red Dragons took a 1-0 lead in the 12th minute. After a foul was called on Bowdoin, it set up a free kick for Oneonta from 35 yards out. Sophomore Owen Siegel (Liberty, N.Y./Liberty) took the free kick and placed it nine yards from the net to Fecci who headed it perfectly over the Polar Bears goalie's head.  

Bowdoin responded with a pair of goals in the following 12 minutes. In the 15th minute, Charlie Ward found Felipe Reuda Duran for a breakaway on the right side of the field. Redua Duran fired it just before he entered the 18-yard box to tie the game. In the 24th minute, Rueda Duran had another breakaway up the right side and once he entered the 18, he centered it to Tyler Huck for the goal to give them a 2-1 lead.   

"We had chances, but it didn't go our way," Byrne continued.  

Following Huck's goal, Fecci immediately had an opportunity near the net to tie it at two, but the six-yard box was contested by a couple defenders and the shot was saved by Michael Webber. Just before halftime, the Red Dragons kept the pressure and in the 43rd minute they drew a penalty in the box for a penalty kick opportunity. Graduate student Tristan Battistoni (Pleasant Valley, N.Y./Arlington) took the kick lower left of the net and was stopped by Webber as Bowdoin went into halftime maintaining the 2-1 lead.  

In the 61st minute, junior John Bernardi (Mahopac, N.Y./Mahopac) had to come off the field due to a foot injury and the next minute, the Polar Bears made it a 3-1 game. Reuda Duran brought the ball up the middle with not much pressure and passed it to Charlie Ward for the score. With a two-goal lead, Bowdoin collapsed around the net and stood in the way of Oneonta's chances for the rest of the match.  

Senior Nate Hanna (Baldwinsville, N.Y./C.W. Baker) finished with two saves and Webber ended with five.  

The Red Dragons outshot the Polar Bears 11-7 overall and 6-5 on net. Both teams had three corner kicks.  

Fecci's goal in the contest put him at 14 goals and 33 points to cap off the season. That puts him tied for 10th in program history for most goals and points scored in a season.

Freshman Milton Mancias Magana (Mamaroneck, N.Y./Mamaroneck) finished the season with nine assists, tied for 9th most in program history.  Read Full Article