QUINTIN JAMES
Staff Writer
Coming off of a first-place performance in the Blue Devil Classic, the Fredonia men’s soccer team were preparing to play in their final home game before a five-game road trip. SUNYAC play begins on this upcoming road trip so each game has added pressure on them.
Coach PJ Gondek has stressed to his team the importance of taking the season one game at a time and he explained that the plan going into SUNYAC play was to focus on the next opponent and not think too far ahead.
“The players understand that the most important game is the next game. It will be important to try to get the first goal against Nazareth. I really don’t want to think ahead of Tuesday right now.”
Before going out on the road, Fredonia had one more home game against Nazareth where they looked to go to 5-0 to start the season.
Gondek wanted his team to get off to a fast start but the total opposite happened. In minute 13, Nazareth would score on a shot that blasted the top right corner to put the Blue Devils behind in the game early. In minute 22, they would add on as a perfect cross led to a header that made the score 2-0 early in the first half.
Fredonia goalie and sophomore Ty Bentham had another good performance with eight saves and Fredonia had 11 shots but they couldn’t solve the defense and goaltending of Nazareth as they fell 2-0 for their first loss of the year.
A four-day layoff gave Fredonia a few days to think about the tough loss. Going out on the road is tough but facing conference rivals in hostile territory is a test for any team.
Fredonia had to travel to Pennsylvania to face Geneva college who came into the game at 4-0. The game in the first half was slow as both teams had chances to score but played to a 0-0 draw in the first 45 minutes. The score would stay that way until minute 74 where senior Ryan Ross scored his third goal of the season to break the ice in the game.
Geneva would tie the game in minute 88 and had the momentum going into overtime, but for the third time this season, Fredonia found a way to pull a win out from under them. 1:10 into overtime, sophomore Dylan Moeser scored a rebound off a shot off the crossbar by Parker Healy. The goal was his first collegiate goal and it couldn’t have come at a better time.
Fredonia will have a tough road ahead of them as they play SUNYAC rivals Brockport next, followed by Geneseo, and Buffalo State before coming back home to play.