ONEONTA, N.Y. -- The Oneonta men's soccer team wrapped up the regular season with a 4-1 win in SUNYAC play against Alfred State, Saturday afternoon at Red Dragon Field. The Pioneers netted the first goal of the contest before the Red Dragons rattled off four straight goals with graduate student
Iyare Harris (Kingston, NY/Kingston) leading the team with two goals and an assist. Freshman
Yacouba Bamba (Harlem, NY/Success Academy High School of Liberal Arts) finished with three assists and became the 13th player in program history to record at least three assists in a game.
The win in the regular season finale improved Oneonta's record to 12-1-2 overall and 6-1-1 in the SUNYAC, which clinched the Red Dragons as the three seed in the conference tournament. The team earned a first-round bye with the seeding and will host the winner of six seed Potsdam and seven seed Delhi on Saturday October 31. Alfred State finished their inaugural season in the SUNYAC 2-10-3 overall and 2-5-1 in conference play.
"It was a really slow start today, but we got into gear in the second half," said Head Coach
Iain Byrne. "It was another missed penalty, which I think is our third this season, and heading into the playoffs a penalty shootout is going to be scary!"
Oneonta generated several shots on goal in the early moments of the game, along with a penalty kick opportunity, but Alfred State's keeper made the stops. The Pioneers then struck first in the 21st minute with a goal from Josh Lewandusky that was assisted by Tommy Dimaggio.
Despite the score, the Red Dragons controlled possession and found the back of the net in the 37th minute to tie the match. Harris received the ball as two defenders closed in on him and passed it to Bamba. The Oneonta freshman moved the ball into the box and tapped it back to Harris for a shot from 12 yards out for the score.
The Red Dragons came out hot in the second half and made it 3-1 with a pair of goals in the 51st and 53rd minute. Graduate student
Zach Rabadi (Hopewell Junction, NY/John Jay) came sprinting into the 18-yard box to receive a pass from Harris. Rabadi weaved his way through a few Pioneer defenders to regain possession, then he passed it back to Harris, who fired a shot from 10 yards out for his ninth goal of the season.
In the 53rd, senior
Owen Rubio-Heeney (Valhalla, NY/Valhalla) sent a long throw in towards Harris in the attacking third. Harris played it to Bamba, and Bamba delivered a through ball to freshman
Elias Curran (Rondout Valley, NY/Rondout Valley). Curran got to the ball at the top of the 18-yard box and lasered the ball into the back of the net off his first touch. The goal was Curran's third of his freshman campaign.
Rabadi closed out the game with Oneonta's final goal in the 79th minute. Bamba worked his way passed multiple Pioneers into the penalty area and found Rabadi in front of the goal area for the finish. The Red Dragon captain has five goals this season as he ended the match with a goal and an assist.
Senior
James Cintron (Poughkeepsie, NY/Roy C. Ketcham) finished the game with three saves for the Red Dragons. Lukas Bandurski started the first 80:01 in net for the Pioneers and recorded nine saves, while Marcus Tittle played the final 9:59 and made one stop.
Oneonta outshot Alfred State 22-6 in total shots, 14-4 with shots on target, and they finished with a 9-0 advantage in corner kicks.
Throughout the day, Oneonta celebrated and honored their seniors for Senior Day. Those recognized were
James Cintron (Poughkeepsie, NY/Roy C. Ketcham),
Jack Folmer (Washingtonville, NY/Washingtonville),
Imari Harris (Kingston, NY/Kingston),
Gavin LaDue (Beacon, N.Y./Beacon),
Adrian Matute (Islip, NY/Islip),
Erik Popp (Hopewell Junction, NY/John Jay),
Owen Rubio-Heeney (Valhalla, NY/Valhalla), and
Zach Tanner (Massapequa Park, NY/Saint Anthony's).
