Oneonta Sports Information Department
A Quick Look
A late goal by the Middlebury Panthers ended the season for the SUNY Oneonta men's soccer team today in the first round of the NCAA Tournament on the campus of Franklin and Marshall. The loss for the Red Dragons caps its season at 10-4-3 overall.
The Inside Story
Oneonta, who was making its ninth tournament appearance in the last 10 years, earned its berth as an at-large selection into the field of 64 teams. Middlebury, who plays in the NESCAC, also received an at-large berth into the tournament.
The game-winner for the Panthers came in the 87th minute on counter that started after what could have been a goal for the Red Dragons at the other end. Just 19 seconds prior to the goal, senior Jeremy Pantoni (Goshen/Goshen), who entered the contest for the first time in the 82nd minute, had a golden opportunity that Middlebury keeper Ryan Grady had to make a diving save on.
The Panthers went on the counter and Andrew Juarez collected the ball just over midfield and carried it down the left side. He split the Red Dragons' defense with a pass, finding the feet of Jordan Saint-Louis at the left corner of the Oneonta penalty box. Saint-Louis touched the pass around one defender and then laid the ball across the goal where Shane Farrell ran onto the service and, in stride, one-timed a shot into the empty net.
Pantoni had one last opportunity in the 89th minute but was blocked by a defender.
The two squads played a scoreless opening half with Oneonta holding a slight advantage in shots 6-4. In the second half, the Red Dragons outshot the Panthers 14-8 but couldn't seem to slip one past Grady, who finished the match with six saves, all coming in the second half.
"It was another heartbreaker and a brutal way to lose," said Head Coach Iain Byrne. "We thought we had the game won, but their keeper made a great save and they went the length of the field to score the winner. We played great, but we never seemed to get the rub of the green when we needed it."
