TROY, N.Y. -- In what looked to be a potential scoreless draw, the Oneonta men's soccer team struck late off a penalty kick and defeated RPI on the road, 1-0, Saturday evening. With less than six minutes to play, junior
Nico Loaiza (Brentwood, NY/Brentwood) got tripped up in the penalty area and capitalized on the penalty kick that ended up being the game-winning goal. The win improved the Red Dragons to 5-0-1 this season, while the Engineers dropped to 2-2-1 overall.
"It was a typical road game, but we eventually settled into a rhythm," said Head Coach
Iain Byrne. "We played really well in the second half, and I feel a goal was a just reward."
Oneonta had a couple of chances to score and take the lead in the first half. In the 11th minute,
Iyare Harris (Kingston, NY/Kingston) received a lead pass into the 18-yard box for a shot that the RPI keeper tipped, and forced the ball to roll just outside the post. Towards the end of the half, in the 44th minute, freshman
Yacouba Bamba (Harlem, NY/Success Academy High School of Liberal Arts) took a deep shot that was on target, but one hopped into the goalie's chest.
During the second half and before Loaiza's PK attempt, both he and Bamba had great shot attempts on net, yet the Engineers' keeper, Noah Churchill, made quick stops on each shot. As the clock was nearing the 90th minute, Loaiza had the ball at the top corner of the box and slipped by one defender. He attempted to get by another Engineer but was fouled by that defender and was awarded a penalty kick in the 85th minute. On the penalty kick, Loaiza fired it in the net before Churchill could make the stop.
Senior
James Cintron (Poughkeepsie, NY/Roy C. Ketcham) finished the game with one save for the Red Dragons. Just before Oneonta's PK, RPI had a free kick from about 30 yards out, and Chris McKinney took the kick that was sent low towards the net, forcing Cintron to dive for the save.
Churchill finished the game with five saves for RPI.
Oneonta outshot RPI 12-10 in total shots, 6-1 with shots on net, and finished with a 6-3 advantage in corner kicks.
The Red Dragons' road trip continues with another Liberty League opponent on Tuesday, September 22, when they head to Saratoga Springs to take on Skidmore at 6 pm.
