ONEONTA, N.Y. -- The SUNY Oneonta men's lacrosse team fell in overtime to New Paltz, 14-13, Wednesday afternoon in their final home game of the season. Freshman Jamie O'Neil (Bath, N.Y./Haverling) finished with four goals and three assists, and senior Sam Haita (Stephentown/La Salle Institute) recorded four goals and two assists. Following the result both the Red Dragons and Hawks moved to 7-6 on the season and 3-3 in the SUNYAC.  

After Anthony Senecal scored the first goal for New Paltz, Oneonta took a 3-1 lead at 8:58 with goals from junior Matthew Krieg (Port Jefferson Station/Comsewogue), senior Armando Guerrero (Bellmore/Wellington C. Mepham), and Haita. The Hawks closed out the first with three unanswered to go ahead 4-3 into the second period.  

Junior Evan Kelly (Niskayuna/Niskayuna) put the Red Dragons ahead with a pair of goals at 9:36 in the second period, however Colin Cleary and James Flanagan found the net to put New Paltz back ahead 6-5 at halftime.  

Senior Jack Dinnegan (Blauvelt/Tappan Zee) and Deacon Hill traded goals in the start of the third period, then Haita and O'Neil assisted on one another's goals to give Oneonta an 8-7 lead at 8:13. Senecal knotted the game at eight at 6:15, but O'Neil closed out the period with two goals, including one man-up, for a 10-8 Red Dragon lead.

O'Neil made it a three-score game off an assist from Haita at 13:39 in the fourth. The Hawks brought it to within one after John Reese and Thomas Armetta found the net. Haita maintained a two-goal lead for Oneonta netting two goals, with one off a pass from senior Connor Gallagher (Montrose/Hendrick Hudson), with 9:20 to play. James Flanagan made it 12-13 before he assisted Reese to tie the game at 2:27, eventually leading to overtime.

There was less than a minute remaining in the first overtime period when Hill caused a turnover, cleared the ball and scored the game-winning goal for the Hawks.  

Kelly ended the game with a pair of goals while Krieg had a goal and an assist. Junior Harrison Boukas (North Massapequa/Plainegde) recorded 13 saves.  

Matt Brignati won 23 of 31 faceoffs for New Paltz and Ryan Steinhart finished with 16 saves.  

Oneonta outshot New Paltz 48-39 while the Hawks had a 46-27 ground ball advantage and won 23 of the 31 faceoffs.

The Red Dragons conclude the regular season this Saturday at Geneseo at 1 pm.  Read Full Article