ONEONTA, N.Y. -- The No. 15 SUNY Oneonta men's soccer team finished their regular season conference play with a 1-1 tie against Buffalo State, Saturday afternoon. Sophomore
Milton Mancias Magana (Mamaroneck, N.Y./Mamaroneck) scored the lone goal for the Red Dragons as the team improved to 12-2-2 overall and 5-2-2 in the SUNYAC, while the Bengals sit at 10-3-3 on the season and 5-3-1 in the conference. Oneonta finished third in the conference standings this season and will host six seed Geneseo on Saturday in the first round of the SUNYAC tournament. Buffalo State will host New Paltz in the other first round match up.
Before the start of the game, Oneonta recognized their four seniors for their careers as Red Dragons. Those players were
John Bernardi (Mahopac, N.Y./Mahopac),
Robert Bruschini (Wilton, N.Y./South Glens Falls),
Dalton Dancy (Syosset, N.Y./Saint Anthony's), and
Richard Portogallo (Massapequa, N.Y./Massapequa).
"I thought it was an entertaining game with both teams going for it," said head coach
Iain Byrne. "We were on the front foot from the off, and that was an encouraging performance."
Oneonta got on the board in the 53rd minute when
Ali Somow (Utica, N.Y./Proctor) chipped it into the box to
Ian Zingaro (Liverpool, N.Y./Liverpool). Zingaro rifled it at the net off his first touch from 12 yards out and was stopped by Shae Wirt, but the save dribbled away from Wirt towards Mancias Magana who kicked it in.
The Bengals tied it up in the 68th minute. About eight yards out from the penalty box corner, Ali Mohamed took the free kick for Buffalo State. An Oneonta defender headed the ball up in the air towards the net, senior
Nate Hanna (Baldwinsville, N.Y./C.W. Baker) missed the punch out, and Stephen Haven was able to tip it in for the goal. The Red Dragons had a few opportunities to regain the lead, including a couple in the last 10 minutes from Somow and junior
Luigi Prosperi (Lynbrook, N.Y./Lynbrook), however they were stopped by Wirt.
Hanna finished the game with one save and Wirt ended with seven saves for the Bengals.
Oneonta outshot Buffalo State 16-5 and had a 10-0 advantage on corner kicks.
The Red Dragons wrap up the regular season on Tuesday with a road match against Hamilton at 3 pm.
