Hawks Fall to Blue Knights in Opening SUNYAC Contest, 3-0

NEW PALTZ, NY — The SUNY New Paltz men’s soccer team hosted the Geneseo Blue Knights under the lights at Dietz Stadium in Kingston, NY on Friday night. The Hawks fell 3-0, in the opening weekend of SUNYAC competition.

The two teams battled out a scoreless first half. New Paltz had the first scoring opportunity presented to them only 3:22 into the game, as Joseph Fabian (Selden, NY/Newfield) attempted to put a head shot over Geneseo keeper Adam McMahon (Syracuse, NY/Bishop Ludden), but was denied. Four minutes later, the play was repeated at the opposite end of the field with Jeffery Dudley (Poughkeepsie, NY/Spackenkill) saved a header attempt by Yoshi Morimoto (Sapporo, Japan/Tsukisamu).

New Paltz registered nine first half shots to Geneseo’s eight attempts.

The Blue Knights registered their first goal of the game at the 54:25 mark. Judah Manetta (Rochester, NY/Greece Arcadia) blasted a shot from the left side of the goal box directly at Dudley who deflected the shot. Joe Walter (Snyder, NY/The Nichols School) capitalized on the deflection to fire the ball into the back of the net past Dudley’s outstretched arms.

Pat Occhuito (Williamsville, NY/Williamsville East) tallied the next goal for Geneseo at 73:13 on a header into the left side of the net off a cross from the right side of the field. The assisted was credited to Dan Spada (Williamsville, NY/Williamsville East).

The Hawks had hope of pulling to within one as Daniel Falco (Huntington, NY/Elwood John H. Glenn) soared a high ball from the right side toward the goal only to have it hit the post and be rejected.

Manetta capped off the scoring on an unassisted goal at 87:42. Dudley made eight saves in net, as New Paltz falls to 2-4 overall and 0-1 in SUNYAC. The Blue Knights advance to 4-1-0 and1-0. New Paltz will take on the Brockport Golden Eagles Saturday, September 16, 2006 at 4 p.m. at Dietz Stadium.