ONEONTA, N.Y. -- Despite the rain and wind, the Oneonta women's soccer team enjoyed their Senior Day and defeated Eastern Connecticut State in a 1-0 victory, Saturday afternoon at Red Dragon Field. Senior
Brenna Mast (Croghan, NY/Beaver River) scored the game-winning goal, the lone score of the match in the 18th minute, then junior
Emily Hardison (Coram, NY/Longwood) totaled four saves to maintain the clean sheet for her third shutout this year. The win improved the Red Dragons record to 3-3-1 this season, while the Warriors dropped to 6-2 overall.
"A collective team win over a tough side to wrap up non-conference play and send us into SUNYAC play on a positive," Head Coach
Mara Primmer commented.
Oneonta scored the game-winning goal off a set piece in the early moments of the 18th minute. Senior
Gianna Hanner (Ridge, NY/Longwood) took the corner kick for the team and sent it in front of the goal area. Senior
Dominique DiOrio (Massapequa, NY/Massapequa) got a piece of the ball and had it bounce off senior
Caroline Schimitsch (Little Neck, NY/The Mary Louis Academy) towards an open area near the goal. Mast came sprinting in and fired the shot from six yards out for the score. The goal was Mast's second of the season.
Hardison recorded her first save shortly after Oneonta's goal in the 22nd minute, when Michaela Gasparri took a shot from the top of the 18-yard box and forced the Red Dragon keeper to dive for the stop.
Sophomore
Bella Mattoni (Valhalla, NY/Valhalla) had a chance to extend the lead in the 41st with a deep shot, but the Warriors keeper kept the ball in front of her, and the game went into halftime.
Sophomore
Violet Mattoni (Valhalla, NY/Valhalla) put a shot on goal in the 60th minute for a chance at a two-goal lead, however Alex Ignatowicz made the stop.
Hardison started the second half with a save in the 55th minute, then she caught another ball for her third stop in the 61st. The junior keeper's final save occurred in the 81st minute when Gasparri took a long shot from 30 yards out and landed straight into the hands of Hardison, securing the Red Dragons victory.
Ignatowicz finished the game with three saves for East. Connecticut State. Gasparri recorded three shots on goal for the Warriors.
Eastern Connecticut outshot Oneonta 10-6 in total shots, 4-3 with shots on goal, and an 11-4 advantage in corner kicks.
"A great win to celebrate a tremendous group that have really dug into the process and values of this program and continue to work hard to leave the program in a better spot," Coach Primmer concluded.
The Red Dragons honored and celebrated the careers of 10 members for Senior Day. Those recognized were
Kennedy Becker (Croghan, NY/Beaver River Central),
Dominique DiOrio (Massapequa, NY/Massapequa),
Katie Doherty (Miller Place, NY/Miller Place),
Gianna Hanner (Ridge, NY/Longwood),
Jacey Hinds (Blossvale, NY/Camden Senior),
Brenna Mast (Croghan, NY/Beaver River),
Hannah McNally (Centereach, NY/Centereach),
Emma Parente (Holtsville, NY/Sachem East),
Lisa Schinckel (Sydney, Australia/Hornsby Girls School), and
Caroline Schimitsch (Little Neck, NY/The Mary Louis Academy).
Oneonta is back on the pitch on Wednesday, September 30, for the start of SUNYAC play against Canton at 4 pm on Red Dragon Field.
