LEXINGTON, VA. -- The SUNY Oneonta men's soccer team's season came to an end after a 2-1 defeat to Washington & Lee in the second round of the NCAA Division III tournament, Sunday afternoon. An early goal in each half gave the Generals a two-goal lead until senior John Bernardi (Mahopac, N.Y./Mahopac) scored in the 67th minute, but the Red Dragons could not find the equalizer in the remaining moments of the match.

"It was a really disappointing finish to the season," said head coach Iain Byrne. "Except for a spell at the beginning of the second half, we felt we dominated the ball, created numerous chances, but just couldn't capitalize."

Washington & Lee netted the first goal in the fifth minute. Following a throw in near the attack zone, Alec Perez received the ball at the top of the penalty area and shot through a pack of players where the ball redirected off senior Ian Zingaro's (Liverpool, N.Y./Liverpool) body and forced senior Nate Hanna (Baldwinsville, N.Y./C.W. Baker) to dive for a save attempt, but the ball hit the left post. With the net empty and no defenders near him, Grant McCarty ran towards the ball for the open shot.  

The Red Dragons held the ball deep in the offensive zone throughout the first half and created a 10-1 advantage in corner kicks. Sophomore Milton Mancias Magana (Mamaroneck, N.Y./Mamaroneck), junior Derek Marques (Somers, N.Y./Somers), and senior Robert Bruschini (Wilton, N.Y./South Glens Falls) all registered a shot on goal during the half, however Will Joseph made the saves.  

Two minutes into the second half, the Generals made it 2-0 on a free kick from 25 yards out where McCarty found Weyimi Agbeyegbe.  

Bernardi gave the Red Dragons hope in the 67th minute with an unassisted goal. He gained control of the ball around midfield and drove it up the middle of the field effortlessly as no one from Washington & Lee challenged him. A General defender finally stepped in front of him just before the penalty area, but it was too late as Bernardi had kicked the ball towards the far post and curled the ball away from Joseph's reach into the back of the net.   

Junior Ali Somow (Utica, N.Y./Proctor) attempted to replicate Bernardi's goal in the 71st minute with a shot from the right side of the field that was heading towards the left upper 90, unfortunately Joseph got a fingertip on it and maintained the lead. The Red Dragons final chance came in the 80th minute when Hanna sent a kick down the length of the field towards a General defender. The defender tried to head it back towards his goalie but did not get a clean hit on it which allowed a charging junior Luigi Prosperi (Lynbrook, N.Y./Lynbrook) a chance at the ball. Prosperi got the ball with only the goalie and defender near him, took a shot and had it blocked. A few seconds later, he had another chance only to have it blocked again and Washington & Lee held on to the win.  

Byrne continued, "The boys can still be proud of their performances, and after the talent we lost last year, it was a great season."

Hanna finished the game with two saves and Joesph ended with four.  

Oneonta outshot Washington & Lee 16-15 overall, 5-4 on target, and held a 14-6 advantage on corner kicks.  

The Red Dragons finished the year with a 15-4-3 overall record. Read Full Article