[metaslider id=3859]
QUINTIN JAMES
Staff Writer
The men’s soccer team had a golden opportunity to get back into the playoffs this week as they faced off against two conference opponents, Oswego and Cortland, and one non-conference opponent, Alfred State. This was the perfect time to get a couple of wins at home to keep their playoff hopes alive. Coming off two past weekends on the road, the Blue Devils wanted to come into the week focused and ready for the tough road ahead.
The Blue Devils faced off last Tuesday against Alfred State who came into play with an overall record of 7-1-2, with the Blue Devils being the clear underdog in the matchup. They fought hard all game, but one mistake cost Fredonia the game.
Alfred State scored in the 24th minute when the ball was bounced off junior goalie Austin Santor and put into the net by an Alfred State player. Besides that mistake, the Blue Devils played a good game. The first half however, was dominated by Alfred. It controlled possession and outshot the Blue Devils 8-1 in the first half.
The second half was a different story; the Blue Devils were more aggressive, and it showed in their play. Even though they were outshot 9-8, they had more possessions and had more opportunities to score in the half. Alfred State had only two saves, but those saves were crucial in Alfred State beating Fredonia.
In the 75th minute, the Blue Devils were awarded a penalty kick, and it looked like the game would be tied. However, junior Ryan Keller’s kick was saved by Alfred State’s goalkeeper Chris Gutierrez, who then saved the rebound by sophomore Aaron Hayes. This loss was heartbreaking because it was a game the Blue Devils deserved to win. The team had to regroup for a tough weekend ahead.
On Friday, the Blue Devils faced off against Oswego in a matchup that was important for playoff indications. The Blue Devils offense came alive in this game — they scored four goals and looked like a team that had finally figured it out.
After being shut out in the last four games, the offense scored two goals in 34 seconds at one point in the game. The team appeared dominant all game. In the 36th minute sophomore Mohamed Hussein scored after a low cross into the box by Keller. Only 20 seconds later, junior Joey Vucic hit a shot from about 30 yards out that went in the back of the net and put the Blue Devils up two in a matter of seconds.
Hussein scored his second goal of the game in the 53rd minute when he got a through ball from sophomore Josh McIntosh and put it in the back of the net. Another goal in the 87th minute was scored when senior Paul Reinis had a breakaway which made the game 4-0. The Blue Devils outshot Oswego 21-17. Santor had his third shutout of the season, and the win greatly helped the Blue Devils’ playoff hopes.
They couldn’t celebrate the win as they had to turn around and welcome SUNYAC final Cortland the next day. The Blue Devils, for the most part, played a good game, but collapsed in the end. Cortland scored three goals in the last five minutes that killed any momentum the Blue Devils had going into the game.
Cortland controlled the game and pace for first half. After their goal in the 13th minute, it looked like they would run away with this game. To the Blue Devils’ credit, they fought back and showed a ton of heart. Fredonia tied the game in the 56th minute when Hussein sent a cross through the box to junior Bryan Sibble for the one-touch finish.
The momentum didn’t last long, as Cortland answered to take back the lead in the 59th minute off a bad rebound that went into the net. Fredonia had a ton of chances to score but couldn’t convert when the time came. The collapse started in the 84th minute as a turnover by the Blue Devils. It led to a Cortland shot on goal and ultimately another rebound goal that quieted the hostile Fredonia crowd.
After that goal, the Blue Devils lost their edge and gave up two more goals in four minutes. This loss was tough to take for Fredonia because the score didn’t tell how close this game was. Outshot 26-9, the Blue Devils missed out on many shots and failed to capitalize on many opportunities, which cost them the game.
Sitting at 2-9-2 overall, the Blue Devils are still in the race for the last playoff spot but they need to start winning more games. They go on the road this weekend to play Plattsburgh and Potsdam this weekend. Those two games are important, and if Fredonia can win these two games, the playoffs are a possibility for this year.