BUFFALO, N.Y. -- The 2025 Oneonta men's soccer team cemented themselves into Oneonta Athletics history and became the 13th team in its program history to be crowned SUNYAC champions, Saturday afternoon at Coyer Field in Buffalo. Oneonta trailed during the second half before they scored two goals in the final 20 minutes of play and defeated Buffalo State, 2-1, on the road for the conference title and an automatic bid into the NCAA Division III tournament, the program's 16th National tournament appearance.  

"I couldn't be prouder of our Red Dragon men's soccer program for winning the conference championship," said Oneonta Athletics Director Ryan Hooper. "This accomplishment is a testament to the team's resilience, discipline, belief in one another, and ability to overcome adversity." 

The Bengals struck first and took the lead in the 48th minute with a goal from Tapiwa Mushonga, however senior Joe Holder (Greenwood Lake, N.Y./Warwick) scored the equalizer in the 74th minute with an assist from senior Braeden Morrison (Marathon, N.Y./Marathon), which was Morrison's first career point. In the 86th minute, senior Zach Rabadi (Hopewell Junction, N.Y./John Jay) sent the ball off a free kick into the 18 and set up freshman Noah Hechler (Somers, NY/Somers) to score the game-winning goal with a header.  

"As a group, we felt our results and performances this season haven't been a true reflection of the quality of this squad, and the conference tournament was a chance to prove ourselves," said Head Coach Iain Byrne. "We managed to overcome injuries, penalty misses, and red cards, while winning three games on the road and finishing as worthy SUNYAC Champions." 

Buffalo State kept the ball down on Oneonta's side in the first opening minutes of play and registered two corner kicks, but they came up empty each time. Senior Luigi Prosperi (Lynbrook, N.Y./Lynbrook) had the first shot on goal in the 4th minute from the goal area's right sideline, and it was saved by the Bengals keeper, Carson Smith. The save set up a Red Dragons corner where the ball was kicked out of the penalty box and towards Rogers, who fired a low shot that Smith stopped. Freshman Nico Osorio (Valley Stream, NY/St. Dominick's) made his first collegiate start in the conference championship match and faced his first test in the 10th minute. Buffalo State's Zaccaria Gerosa received the ball at the top right of the 18 and fired in a shot that Osorio batted down and held onto for his first save of the game.

Rabadi had the final chance in the first half with a free kick from 45 yards out, but Smith came running up and grabbed it before any Red Dragon could redirect it in.

The Bengals broke the scoreless tie a couple of minutes into the second half, in the 48th minute. Buffalo State had a throw in close to the corner and eventually got the ball into the left side of the penalty box to Lesedi Sekhobo. Sekhobo found Mushonga in front of the goal area with a centering pass for the score.

Shortly after Mushonga's goal, Buffalo State looked to extend their lead in the 50th minute when Aney Djadou had a shot in the center of the 18, but Osorio dove down for the save. 

Oneonta was given an opportunity to tie the game in the 56th minute. After a Red Dragon corner kick, the Bengals were trying to kick the ball out of the penalty box when it went to junior Imari Harris (Kingston, NY/Kingston), and he took a shot that hit off Sekhobo's arm inside the penalty box and set up a penalty kick. Harris took the PK for Oneonta and had it saved by Smith, maintaining his team's lead and putting Buffalo State 35 minutes away from their program's first conference title since 1970.

"To quote Babe Ruth, 'It's hard to beat someone who never gives up'... that's exactly what Oneonta demonstrated today, as they never stopped believing in each other!" Assistant Coach Chris Saggese exclaimed.

Despite being down in the match, Oneonta looked to have Buffalo State somewhat anxious with the ball and a 1-0 lead, continuously having them punt the ball out from their side of the field rather than moving it around and playing for another score. Finally, after trailing for 25 minutes, the Red Dragons re-gained life with a header from Holder in the 74th.

Oneonta had the ball down near the endline where Prosperi saved it from going out. Buffalo State tried to clear it, but the ball was redirected by sophomore Nico Loaiza (Brentwood, N.Y./Brentwood) to Rabadi near midfield, and he sent it to Harris. Harris then passed behind him to Morrison, and Morrison lasered a centering pass from 30 yards out for his first collegiate point as Holder headed the ball from 10 yards out into the right side of the net for the equalizer, his seventh goal of the season.   Once the game was tied, all of the momentum shifted to Oneonta's side. Holder had a chance after his game-tying goal to score the game-winner in the 81st minute, however it was stopped by Smith.

In the 86th minute, Hechler found the back of the net for the Red Dragons game-winning goal and the 2-1 final. Holder was fighting for the ball with a Bengals defender at midfield when he drew a foul and set up a free kick. Rabadi took the free kick from 41 yards out and aimed it towards the far post, then Hechler jumped and headed the ball from the top of the goal area, and bounced it below a leaping Smith into the net.   Oneonta kept Buffalo State away from any chance at an equalizer in the final minutes of regulation.

Holder and senior Milton Mancias Magana (Mamaroneck, N.Y./Mamaroneck) both recorded two shots on goal. Rabadi, Rogers, Hechler, Prosperi, and Harris all had one shot on target.   Diego Rivera, Division-III's leader in goals and points, was limited to only two shot attempts, neither on goal. His first shot was blocked by Hechler in the 27th minute, then he sailed it just over the crossbar in the 63rd, for what would have been a two-goal lead.  

In his first collegiate start in net, Osorio finished with two saves and the win for the Red Dragons. Smith ended with seven saves for the Bengals. Oneonta outshot Buffalo State 13-7 in total shots, 9-3 in shots on goal, and they held a 7-5 corner kick advantage.   "Three away plyoff games isn't easy, especially against three quality sides," Assistant Coach Tim Sagasti commented. "From the freshman to the seniors, everyone on the team really stepped up. I'm excited to keep things going in the NCAA tournament."

Hechler was named the SUNYAC tournament's MVP and was named to the SUNYAC All-Tournament team alongside Holder, Rabadi, and Rogers. During this postseason run, Hechler recorded his first collegiate point with an assist against New Paltz, then he scored his first career goal that helped finish their semifinal match tied against Cortland and finished it off with the game-winning goal in the final versus Buffalo State.   Holder recorded an assist in the first-round and scored the game-tying goal in the championship, while Rabadi tallied three assists, one in each game, including on the game-winners against the Hawks and Bengals, and Rogers got the postseason started for the Red Dragons with a hat trick at New Paltz.  During the award ceremony, senior Dillon Kelly (Wappingers Falls, N.Y./Beacon) was given the SUNYAC Men's Soccer Elite 20 award. The SUNYAC Elite 20, an award modeled after the NCAA ELITE 90 program, recognizes the essence of the student-athlete by honoring the individual who has reached the pinnacle of competition at the conference championship level in his sport, while also achieving the highest academic standard among his peers. 

The 2025 SUNYAC title is the eighth for the Oneonta men's soccer program, and first since 2022, with Coach Byrne at the helm.    "Under Coach Byrne's leadership, these young men continue to find a way to persevere," Director Hooper continued. "I can't wait to see what this team can do in the NCAA tournament. Let's Go O!"   The NCAA Division III Men's Soccer tournament selection show will take place on Monday, November 10, at 11:30 am, and will determine who and where the Red Dragons play their first-round match on Saturday, November 15.

FULL SUNYAC ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM 
Oneonta
Noah Hechler (Somers, NY/Somers) (MVP)
Sam Rogers (Broadalbin, N.Y./Broadalbin-Perth)
Zach Rabadi (Hopewell Junction, N.Y./John Jay)
Joe Holder (Greenwood Lake, N.Y./Warwick)
Buffalo State 
Carson Smith
Tapiwa Mushonga
Diego Rivera
Cortland
Josh Carroll
Sebastian Olego
Fredonia
Ryan Ameis 
Thomas McDonald Read Full Article