ONEONTA, N.Y. – The Oneonta women's soccer team came up short against Oswego State Saturday afternoon at Red Dragon Field, falling 3-2 in the SUNYAC Second Round. The Red Dragons finished the regular season with an 8-4-4 overall record and a 5-0-3 mark in SUNYAC play. Oswego advances to the semifinals and will face Cortland on Wednesday.
Oneonta got off to a strong start, finding the back of the net just 4:36 into the contest. Junior Sara Kealey (Seaford, NY/General Douglas MacArthur) opened the scoring after receiving a pass from junior Devyn Kelly (Wappingers Falls, NY/Beacon) and putting the Red Dragons ahead 1-0.
Oswego gradually settled into the contest and found the equalizer in the 28th minute. Kyla Sustad set up Liliana De Collibus, who finished the opportunity to even the score at 1-1. The teams remained level heading into halftime.
Oswego took its first lead of the afternoon in the 58th minute when Sustad scored to give the Lakers a 2-1 advantage.
Kealey answered for Oneonta in the 65th minute, scoring her second goal of the game to tie it at 2-2.
The Lakers ultimately regained the lead in the 80th minute. Luz De Luna Catano-Matip found the back of the net in the 79:32 minute to put Oswego ahead 3-2.
Oneonta kept pushing for an equalizer in the closing minutes. Freshman Lily Martin (Fishkill, NY/John Jay) put a shot on target in the 88th minute, but Oswego goalkeeper Lucy Starzyk saved it to preserve the Lakers' advantage.
Kealey led the Red Dragons with two goals on three shots, all on target. Kelly recorded an assist, while Martin and Bella Mattoni (Valhalla, NY/Valhalla) each added a shot on goal.
Emily Hardison (Coram, NY/Longwood) played all 90 minutes in goal for Oneonta and made two saves. The Red Dragons finished with 10 shots, including five on target, and earned three corner kicks.
Despite the loss, Oneonta concluded its regular season with an 8-4-4 record and a 5-0-3 conference mark.
