CORTLAND, N.Y. – The SUNY Oneonta field hockey team came up short in a 2-1 loss to SUNY Cortland. The host Red Dragons improved to 12-3 overall with their seventh consecutive win and moved into a tie for first place in the conference standings with Oneonta at 4-1. The visiting Red Dragons fell to 12-3 overall.

Sophomore Alise Anson tallied Oneonta's goal with freshman Colleen Geyer assisting. Sophomore goalie Danell Jones registered seven saves.

Junior Jess Gibaldi assisted on O'Brien's second goal. Junior goalie Kailynne Reinoehl made four saves in posting the win.

Cortland controlled much of the play in the opening half, outshooting Oneonta, 8-1. O'Brien gave the host Red Dragons the lead at the 20:28 mark when she buried a rebound after Jones made a diving save on senior Anna Branch's deflected shot from the right side. Moments later, Cortland received a five-minute yellow card but was able to hold Oneonta from generating any quality scoring chances. O'Brien made it a 2-0 game 1:44 before the half. Gibaldi carried down the left side, worked the ball just inside the circle and fired the ball at the cage where O'Brien managed a deflection that eluded Jones.

Oneonta turned the tables in the second half, holding a decisive edge in possession and penalty corners (9-0). The visiting Red Dragons eventually made one of the corners pay off at 52:29. After junior Allyson Bilow inserted the ball, Geyer fed a pass into the circle where Anson spun and deposited a shot inside the left post.

Five minutes later, Cortland had a player sent off for two minutes with a green card, but, again, Oneonta could not capitalize. Upon returning to full strength on the field, the host Red Dragons managed the next four shots in the game. Oneonta's final chance came off senior Sierra Palmatier's stick with 2:17 to play, but Reinoehl easily turned away the high shot to seal the win.

The Red Dragons are back in action tomorrow against SUNY Oswego.