CORTLAND, NY — The New Paltz men’s soccer team fell to Cortland 4-0 Saturday afternoon in SUNYAC action. Junior Bryan Patterson scored a pair of second-half goals to help lead the Cortland Red Dragons. The win was the Red Dragons’ fourth in their last five games and improved their record to 4-3-2 overall and 2-0 in the conference, while the Hawks fell to 2-6-1 and 0-3-1.
Although Cortland only outshot New Paltz, 14-13, in the game, the Red Dragons took advantage of their chances. Senior Dan Dunn opened the scoring in the 22nd minute, moments after New Paltz sophomore Daniel Falco (Huntington/Elwood John Glenn) missed an excellent chance from the left side, putting his shot high and wide. On the ensuing possession, Cortland was awarded a throw in on the left sideline. Sophomore Peter Degere heaved a long throw into the box that sailed just over Cortland senior Travis Carey’s head right to Dunn, who sent a clean header past New Paltz senior goalie Masanori Hotta (Kawanishi, Japan) for his third goal of the season.
Cortland extended its lead to 2-0 in the 38th minute. Senior Reilly Buckley carried the ball deep down the right side and fed a cross to the far post. Freshman Kirk DeNero one-touched the pass into an open net for his first collegiate goal.
In the 57th minute, junior Charlie Dickinson fed a long through ball to Patterson in the middle of the field. Patterson worked past two defenders, stopped on the left side of the box and sent a shot inside the right post from 15 yards out to give the Red
Dragons a 3-0 lead. Four minutes later, Patterson struck again. George Morningstar served a corner kick into the box that Degere sent on goal with a header. Hotta made the initial save, but the ball caromed out to Patterson who easily put a header under the crossbar for his third goal of the season.
The Hawks pressured Cortland late, but couldn’t capitalize on their chances. Cortland junior goalie Steve Axtell denied sophomore Chris Hotzak’s (Smithtown) chance in the 64th minute. Then, in the 74th minute, New Paltz senior Brian Siergiej (Oceanside) curled a corner kick into the box that senior Daniel Cocciardi (Stormville/John Jay) headed over the goal.
Axtell finished the game with just the one save in posting his second shutout of the season, and Hotta registered three saves for the Hawks.
The Hawks will return to action next weekend when they host the Buffalo State Bengals at 4 p.m. on Friday Sept. 29th and the Fredonia Blue Devils at 1 p.m on Saturday Sept. 30th.
