Oneonta, NY — One team came into the game having won five straight. The other came in ranked fifth in the nation. 

Fittingly, the match between the State University of New York at New Paltz and SUNY Oneonta Red Dragons took nearly 110 minutes to decide the winner on a mild Saturday afternoon from Red Dragon Field, and the Hawks were the last team standing. 

Freshman midfielder Joseph DiPreta ended the game on a golden, overtime goal, stepping up and drilling a free kick into the top left corner of the Oneonta net to give SUNY New Paltz the 1-0 victory. 

"It was a battle all game," said Hawks coach Kyle Clancy of the 107-minute affair. "They are a good team, strong and fast and good on the ball. They don't give you a lot of time, and a lot of the game is in transition, so you have to win those battles." 

The first half was played tight with neither team hardly giving an inch. Only nine shots were tallied, with six coming from the Red Dragons and three from SUNY New Paltz. Oneonta had one shot on goal, which was saved by Hawks goalkeeper Marc DePasquale. Philip Varner had a shot in the 24th minute, which went wide of the net. 

The second half was much of the same, with both teams fighting for position and possession but neither able to find the back of the net. DePasquale saved a Red Dragons shot in the 58th minute, and both SUNY New Paltz attempts in the 57th and 71st minute did not convert. In the 89th minute, the Hawks earned a final set piece in regulation, but couldn't convert on the ensuing corner to keep the stalemate after regulation time ended. SUNY New Paltz had eight shots to Oneonta's 11 after 90 minutes, with both teams amassing just five total shots on goal. 

The Hawks did well in transition, limiting the Red Dragons counter attack early and were organized in the midfield not allowing anything too dangerous on goal.  

"I thought our guys were excellent in transition, well organized, disciplined and defended so well individually and as a team," Clancy said. "The goal is to minimize chances versus good teams, and that is what we did today." 

With the game scoreless after 90 minutes of regulation, the two teams went into two 10-minute, golden-goal overtime minutes. The score remained at zeros following the first extra time period and nearly ended in a draw until Gino Mazzella earned a free kick for his team with three minutes to go, leading to DiPreta's attempt just outside the 18-yard box.

"Joey's goal was world class," Clancy said. "We all know he has that level in him. He shows it everyday and we were all confident in him putting that away. Just a brilliant strike in a huge moment and well deserved for him and the team." 

SUNY New Paltz totaled 11 shots on the day — four on goal. The Red Dragons tallied 16, with five on goal.

"Mentally they are as sharp as can be," Clancy said of his team. "They have a high level of belief and whether we are in control or not, their concentration is high and therefore their execution is too… I'm very proud of how they continued to fight and took control of the game in OT." 

The win puts the Hawks one game behind the 11-2-1 Cortland Red Dragons in the SUNYAC, and one game ahead of 10-3 Buffalo State. SUNY New Paltz, however, is the only undefeated team in the conference, at a perfect 5-0. The Hawks next play Oct. 15 when they face Fredonia State (6-7 overall).

"We know we have little things to keep working on," Clancy said. "We will get back to work on Monday to keep improving as a team."