Box Score NEW PALTZ, N.Y. - In a match that featured 42 combined shots, the State University of New York at New Paltz men's soccer squad settled for a 1-1 double overtime draw with visiting Buffalo State in State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) action on Friday afternoon.
With the draw, the Hawks move their record to 4-11-2, 0-6-2 SUNYAC and host SUNY Fredonia tomorrow at 1 p.m. The Bengals move to 5-9-2, 2-4-2 SUNYAC and are still eligible for postseason play, needing a win at No. 4 SUNY Oneonta tomorrow at 1 p.m.
Both teams scored goals in the opening period and battled for the remainder of the afternoon, with several shots deflecting off the post and both goalkeepers making clutch saves down the stretch. But neither side could find the back of the net the rest of the way.
New Paltz came out of the gates firing, attempting nine shots in the first 28 minutes of play. But Buffalo State was the first to strike as Joe Vucic scored his 10
th goal of the season off a central midfield pass by Bryan Daigler to give the Bengals a 1-0 lead in the 31
st minute.
However, the Hawks would answer back with the equalizer in the 40
th minute as junior forward
Jason Gonzalez (Woodside, N.Y./St. Francis Prep) notched a header goal off a set piece pass from the right corner by senior midfielder
Alec Johnson (Ballston Spa, N.Y./Ballston Spa) to knot the match up at 1-1. For Gonzalez, it gives him a team-high seven goals while Johnson now leads the squad with four assists.
The second half was back and forth as the Hawks outshot the Bengals 5-4 but without finding paydirt. In the first overtime session, Buffalo State took charge with four straight shots but could not find the back of the net. The story was the same in the second extra session as the Bengals had the momentum but New Paltz managed to hang on for the draw.
Senior goalkeeper
Steven Domino (Valatie, N.Y./Ichabod Crane) played the entirety and made eight saves including a pair in the first overtime.
Gonzalez led the New Paltz attack with five shots - all on goal - while senior
Stephen Browne (Carle Place, N.Y./Carle Place) and junior
Joe Hughes (Westbury, N.Y./Carle Place) both registered four shots apiece. The Hawks were outshot during the day, 22-20, but held the edge in shots on goal (11-9) and corner kicks (9-6).
