ONEONTA, N.Y.-- After a quiet first half senior Carly Waszczak (Northport/Northport) scored an early third-quarter goal to lift the SUNY Oneonta field hockey team in their season opener over Utica 1-0, Saturday afternoon. Although the score was close, the Red Dragons (1-0) controlled the tempo throughout the game and outshot the Pioneers (0-1), 12-2.

Senior Morgan Fleming (Harpursville/Harpursville) had a chance to put Oneonta on the board in the early moments of the game but was stopped by Utica's Lyla Cushman. In the late second quarter, the Red Dragons kept the offensive pressure on Cushman with three consecutive penalty corners but missed on a couple shot attempts and remained at a scoreless tie going into half.

Just over a minute into the third quarter, Waszczak took the Oneonta penalty corner and pushed it out to the top of the circle to senior Sophia Little (Northport/Northport). Little sent a pass to the right side to senior Claire Mahoney (Pearl River/Pearl River) who got it back to Waszczak in front of the net for a goal.  

Little, Mahoney, and junior Erin Clark (Somers/Somers) created more chances to increase the lead during the third and fourth quarters but were stopped by Cushman. The Red Dragons defense locked down the Pioneers in the second half and did not allow a shot attempt.  

Senior Jennifer Tumino (Carle Place/Carle Place) ended with two saves, while Cushman tallied five.  

Oneonta outshot Utica 12-2 and had a 9-1 advantage in penalty corners.

The Red Dragons return to action tomorrow, September 4, as they host St. Lawrence University at 11:30 am.   Read Full Article