Courtesy of Oneonta Sports Information Department

ONEONTA, N.Y. - In a tremendous game played between two of the top men's soccer teams in the New York Region, it was a diving save on a penalty kick that turned out to be the difference in a 2-1 victory for the University of Rochester against SUNY Oneonta.
 
In the 89th minute, the referee called a handball in the box against Rochester (13-3-3) giving Oneonta (15-2-3) a penalty kick with an opportunity to tie the score.  Senior Cory Santangelo (Sayville/Sayville) stepped up to take the kick and put a shot in a spot that looked like a sure goal, but a diving Redd Brown picked the right way and made a one-handed save that pushed the ball off the post.  On the ensuing action, the Yellowjackets were able to clear the ball out of the box and the clock continued to count down to the final whistle and a victory for Rochester.
 
"We told our guys before the game that in order to beat Oneonta it was going to take extra effort plays," said Rochester Head Coach Chris Apple.  "That save by Redd was just one example of the extra effort that our players showed all match long."
 
"It can be a cruel game at times, and it is going to be a long winter for us," commented Oneonta Head Coach Iain Byrne.  "We played well today and there were some great performances, but it was not our day. Rochester is a top team and we wish them well moving onto the sectionals."
 
All of today's scoring happened in the second half as the two squads battled through a scoreless opening 45 minutes.  Rochester did hold a 9-6 advantage in shots while earning four corner kicks to Oneonta's three in the first half.
 
Both teams took turns at going at each other on the attack in the first half.  After a relatively quiet opening seven minutes, the action picked up and carried through the rest of the half.
 
In the 27th minute, it looked like Rochester finally broke through when they converted a penalty kick after a foul was called on Oneonta in the box.  The goal was waved off due to the referee not whistling the ball ready for play, so Alex Di Perna got a second crack at putting the Yellowjackets ahead.  This time, it was Oneonta keeper Nicholas Giordano (East Northport/Commack) that came up with a diving left-handed save keeping the match deadlocked at zero.
 
Di Perna got a small redemption in the 54th minute when he assisted on the first goal of the match.  Di Perna sent a ball from the right flank all the way across to the left side where Mitch Volis collected the pass.  Volis then took one-touch before putting a shot over Giordano into the upper right corner of the goal.
 
"We actually work on getting our wingers to make those crosses and be more aggressive," commented Apple.  "Both of these teams have great wingers and strong midfielders who can get the ball to the wingers to create opportunities."
 
Oneonta's tying goal came on a restart in the 67th minute.  After a foul outside the box was called on Rochester, senior Luke Osovski (Endicott/Maine Endwell) lined up a kick from about 30 yards out.  Osovski sent a ball into the box to the right side of the goal where classmate Kevin Hoff(LaGrange/Arlington) was waiting.  Hoff elevated over a defender and headed a ball into the back of the goal to knot the score at one goal apiece.
 
With time running short, it was the duo of Volis and Di Perna that paired up to score the eventual game-winner with less than six minutes to go.  This time it was Di Perna who was the beneficiary of a pass from Volis inside the box.  Volis was able to head a ball over the defense to Di Perna who headed a shot towards the right corner.  The ball just caught the inside edge of the post a trickled over the line despite the effort by Giordano to keep it out.
 
Rochester will face Amherst in the third round next weekend at a site to be determined after Messiah and Hobart play tonight in Buffalo.
 
Byrne concluded, "I have to mention our seniors who have given us so much over their four years. They have enjoyed four years of the NCAA's including two Final Fours, as well as three SUNYAC Conference Championships. Hoff, Cory, Brandon (Arrango) and Luke will be sorely missed, and impossible to replace. I cannot thank them enough for choosing Oneonta and giving us such enjoyment."