UTICA, N.Y. -- Trailing by a goal heading into the final 15 minutes of their match against Utica, the No. 13 SUNY Oneonta men's soccer team cameback for a 3-1 victory over the Pioneers, Wednesday evening. Junior Derek Marques (Somers, N.Y./Somers) hit the equalizer in the 76th minute then the game-winner in the 84th before junior Owen Siegel (Liberty, N.Y./Liberty) added an insurance goal in the 89th. The Red Dragons improved to 5-0 on the season while the Pioneers dropped to 2-3.  

"It was a real struggle to break them down, and fortunately we got two goals from an unlikely source to win the game for us," said head coach Iain Byrne. "We will take that and move on to Saturday's home match."

Oneonta maintained possession of the ball at the start of the game, recording four corners in the first 24 minutes, however they only registered one shot on goal with a header from senior John Bernardi (Mahopac, N.Y./Mahopac) that was saved by Eduardo Paez. Despite the Red Dragons controlling the game, the Pioneers got on the board first in the 37th minute with a goal by Ryan Ching. Before halftime, Bernardi got one more shot on target, but was saved by Paez and Utica went into the break ahead a goal.  

The Red Dragons kept possession throughout the second half over the Pioneers and managed to tie it up in the 76th minute. Senior Robert Bruschini (Wilton, N.Y./South Glens Falls) was in the 18-yard box and tried to send a centering pass, but the ball was kicked away. Sophomore Dillon Kelly (Wappingers Falls, N.Y./Beacon) retrieved the ball and got it to Bernardi 35 yards out who sent a lead pass to Marques in the box. Marques took a shot at the net and was stopped by Paez, however the ball stayed in front of the goal for Marquez to punt into the back of the net.  

With the momentum rolling, Oneonta gained the lead in the 84th minute. Trying to create space, Kelly passed the ball near the corner to sophomore Ali Somow (Utica, N.Y./Proctor), who worked the ball towards the penalty box for a centering pass. The moment Kelly passed to Somow, Marques started to run from 50 yards out into the box and received the centering pass eight yards out from Somow for the game-winning goal.  

Siegel tallied the final goal for the Red Dragons in the 89th minute off an assist from sophomore Milton Mancias Magana (Mamaroneck, N.Y./Mamaroneck). Mancias Magana moved the ball down the sideline, into the corner, and when a second defender started to collapse in on him, he chipped it to Siegel just inside the penalty area. Siegel, who had a Pioneer shadowing him, moved the ball up towards the top of the box and with a narrow window booted it with his right foot past a diving Paez.  

Senior goalie Nate Hanna (Baldwinsville, N.Y./C.W. Baker) finished with a save and Paez had five saves for the Pioneers.  

Oneonta had a 20-2 shot advantage and was 7-1 in corner kicks over Utica.

The Red Dragons are back in action Saturday when they host Farmingdale at 3 pm.  Read Full Article