The SUNY Oneonta women's lacrosse team scored six of the final seven goals today to win going away at home against Buffalo State in SUNYAC women's action.
 
Today's victory was a key one for Oneonta, who evened its SUNYAC record at 3-3 moving into the top four in the standings with two conference games remaining.  The Red Dragons are battling for a home game in the opening round of the SUNYAC tournament and this victory gives them the head-to-head tiebreak with the Bengals, who are 3-3 as well in the conference.
 
Sophomore Shannon Giddens (Franklin Square/H Frank Carey) took a feed from senior Taylor Casey (Garden City South/Kellenberg Memorial) and buried a shot to give Oneonta an early 1-0 lead in the third minute.  Buffalo State (7-8) evened the score two minutes later on an unassisted goal by Morgan Hogue.
 
Back-to-back goals by freshman Sophia Calabrese (Bethlehem/Bethlehem Central) and Casey gave the Red Dragons a two-goal cushion.  Jackie Dufresne cut the lead back to one goal for the Bengals 41 seconds after Casey scored.  Calabrese led the attack with five goals.  Casey added two goals and two assists.
 
Three unanswered, unassisted goals by Oneonta pushed its lead to 5-2 midway through the first half.  Junior Kelsey Cohen (Baldwin/Baldwin), freshman Haley Vermette (Brewster/North Salem) and sophomore Erin Fowler (East Meadow/East Meadow) scored for the Red Dragons.
 
Oneonta took a 7-4 lead into the break outshooting the Bengals 20-9 in the first 30 minutes.
 
The Red Dragons defense, led by senior Erica Carney (Massapequa/Plainedge), juniors Melissa Marry (Long Beach/Long Beach) and Emma Cremo (Delmar/Bethlehem Central) and sophomore Nina Bradbury (Yorktown Heights/Somers) locked down on the Bengal attack in the second half holding them to just one goal.  Sophomore Goalie Lexi Keen (Clifton Park/Shenendehowa) was solid in goal making 10 saves in the game including six in the second half.
 
Oneonta finished the game with 40 shots and was successful on 22-of-23 clears.  Buffalo State turned the ball over 29 times in the game, 15 of which were caused by the Red Dragons.  Cremo, Carney and Bradbury combined for seven caused turnovers in the game.
 
Oneonta will travel north to face Potsdam on Tuesday for a contest beginning at 4pm.