Oneonta men's soccer ready for national championship weekend

Courtesy of Oneonta Sports Information Department

The SUNY Oneonta men's soccer team is hoping that the third time really is a charm when they return to the NCAA Division III national championship weekend in Kansas City, MO beginning Friday.  The Red Dragons will face Amherst College in the first men's semifinal match scheduled for a 5pm CST/6pm EST kickoff.
 
All the matches for the weekend will be streamed live through www.NCAA.com.  The winner of Friday's match will face the winner of the Loras/Calvin match that follows Oneonta's match on Saturday night scheduled for 5:30pm CST/6:30pm EST.
 
Oneonta (19-3-1) is reaching the national semifinals for the second consecutive year and third time in the last five years, as they search for its first national title.  The 19 wins is the second most in program history, behind last year's 21 wins.  The Red Dragons have won 10 straight games, the last nine victories coming via shutouts.
 
"It's incredible to think this is our third final four in five years," commented Head Coach Iain Byrne.  "It's great to see the players rewarded for all the effort and dedication they put into the program."
 
The Red Dragons are currently enjoying its greatest four-year span in its 60-year history.  This year's senior class has put together a record of 65-14-9 overall while winning three SUNYAC titles and making four straight NCAA appearances.
 
"It means a lot for the seniors and Oneonta as a program to establish ourselves as a consistent tournament threat and help create a legacy," said senior captain Dylan Williams (Monroe/Monroe-Woodbury).  "With that being said, were not just happy to make it like we may have been last year.  We know we have a job to do and that's to bring a title back to Oneonta."
 
Senior Vincent Pellegrino (Baldwin/Baldwin) added, "This team is family. We've been through it all together and last year's loss still hurts. We hit a bumpy road in the beginning of the year, but that has only made us hungrier. Ever since then we haven't stopped working because we realize what's possible here with this group."
 
When asked, Byrne had this to say of his seniors, "This group of seniors have set standards that will be tough to match for all future players. It's sad that their careers at Oneonta will be over this weekend, but they have given us all some magical moments that will stay with us forever."
 
The Red Dragons earned its program record fifth straight NCAA tournament berth after winning the SUNYAC tournament.  The Red Dragons defeated Plattsburgh, 3-0, in the semifinals before blanking Brockport by the same score in the championship game.
 
Oneonta hosted the opening weekend of the NCAA tournament where they posted a 7-0 victory against CCNY and a 2-0 victory against Rutgers-Camden.  The Red Dragons used its attacking style and stifling defense to move past both opponents into the sectional round.
 
In the sectional round, Oneonta faced MIT first in the round of 16.  Goals by junior Anthony Passiatore (South Setauket/Ward Melville) and senior Jake Sutherland (Syracuse/West Genesee) early in each half led the Red Dragons to a 2-0 victory over the Engineers.
 
Oneonta would face host Haverford in the sectional championship match with a trip to Kansas City on the line.  After 90 minutes of scoreless soccer the two teams headed to overtime.  Playing a man down, the Red Dragons ended the game in the 98^th minute on a goal by senior Dylan Williams (Monroe/Monroe-Woodbury) off a corner kick.
 
Oneonta rejoined the ranks of Division III in 2006 and becoming eligible for the NCAA tournament in 2008.  In 2011, in its first Division III tournament, the Red Dragons advanced all the way to the national championship weekend in San Antonio.
 
This is Oneonta's ninth NCAA tournament appearance overall.  Prior to 2006, Oneonta competed in Division I & II before officially joining Division III.  During that time, Oneonta made four consecutive appearances in the NCAA tournament from 1972-75.  In 1972, the Red Dragons played in the first Division II national championship game.
 
Overall, Oneonta has scored 53 goals while holding its opponents to nine.  The Red Dragons have recorded a single season program record 16 shutouts this fall for a shutout percentage of 69 percent, which is fourth in Division III.  The Red Dragons have been amongst the Division III team leaders during the latter part of the season and currently stand fourth with a goals against average of 0.39.  Oneonta has not allowed a goal in 828 minutes and 11 seconds entering its national semifinal with Amherst.
 
"Playing the way we have been late in the season on defense has been the key to everyone's confidence and this teams success," said Pellegrino.  "The guys in front of me are making my job easier."
 
Pellegrino added, "We have a lot of motivation going into this weekend, we don't only want this for us but for everyone else who has been supporting us throughout the years. Come December 4th were worried about one thing only and that's beating Amherst."
 
Individually, the Red Dragons have six players who have registered double-digits in points including four seniors, one junior and a sophomore.  Senior Jake Sutherland (Syracuse/West Genesee) tops the squad with 20 points on eight goals and four assists.  Two of his eight goals are game-winners.
 
Sutherland and Williams each have 27 career goals, which is top-10 all-time.  Williams, who has 16 points on six goals and four assists this fall, has 70 career points, which is tied for tenth all-time.
 
Both players earned All-SUNYAC first team honors along with classmates Vincent Pellegrino (Baldwin/Baldwin) and Jared Van Brunt (Sayville/Sayville), sophomore Cory Santangelo (Sayville/Sayville) and junior Anthony Passiatore (South Setauket/Ward Melville).
 
Santangelo is tied with Williams with 16 points on seven goals and two assists.  Van Brunt, a defender, has 15 points on six goals and three assists.  Fellow defender, and second team All-Conference honoree Greg Silvestro (West Sayville/Connetquot), leads the team with nine assists to go with three goals.
 
Junior Hans Purtell (Johnson City/Johnson City) rounds out this group with 12 points on three goals and six assists.  Purtell was a third team All-SUNYAC selection this fall.
 
In the goal, Pellegrino has been the No. 1 keeper for the Red Dragons for two years and is having another standout season.  He has logged 1,989 minutes and has a 0.41 goals against average with 13 shutouts, which ties his own single season record set last fall.  He is the all-time career leader in shutouts with 29 along with being the career leader in fewest goals allowed with 26 for keepers who have played at least two years.
 
He has collected 41 wins in goal, which is tied for second all-time and his career goals against of 0.49 is in the top-5.
 
Of the teams that are in Kansas City, Oneonta has only faced Calvin College previously, which was in the national semifinals of the 2011 tournament in San Antonio.  That match ended in favor of Calvin 4-2.
 
"We know from our past two trips how difficult it will be to get the two wins this weekend," said Byrne.  "Our focus is purely on Amherst, and by all accounts, we are going to be confronted by a unique and physical style of play unique to them.  They're record over the past three years is so impressive, and it is going to be a huge challenge to score against them."
 
Williams concluded, "We're a motivated group, especially after how last year ended.  We knew we had to get back here.  We have worked hard to be where we should be."
 
Link to Amherst College Men's Soccer
http://athletics.amherst.edu/sports/msoc/index
 
Link to Calvin College Men's Soccer
http://www.calvinknights.com/sports/msoc/index
 
Link to Loras College Men's Soccer
http://www.duhawks.com/index.aspx?path=msoc&