CORTLAND, N.Y. -- Junior
Michael Miner (Clifton Park/Shenendehowa) converted a shootout penalty kick on Cortland's last attempt to send the nationally sixth-ranked Cortland men's soccer team to the SUNYAC Finals versus Brockport on Saturday at 1 p.m. The host Red Dragons won the shootout, 4-3, over Oneonta after the teams played to a 1-1 tie through 110 minutes of action.
Junior
Jake Keller (Wappingers Falls/Roy C. Ketcham) scored the goal for Cortland (15-1-3). Junior
Miguel Tunas (Carmel/North Salem) collected an assist. Junior goalie
Sean Kelly (Coram/Newfield) made five saves.
Sophomore Roberto Ventura (Brentwood) netted the goal for Oneonta (10-4-5). Senior Alejandro Ruiz (Brentwood) assisted on the score. Senior goalie Nicholas Giordano (East Northport/Commack) registered four saves.
After a scoreless first half, the teams waiting until the final 10 minutes to break the 0-0 deadlock. Ventura gave the visiting Red Dragons the lead in the 81st minute when he beat Kelly one-on-one. Keller sent the game into overtime on a rebound goal, his team-high 14th score of the season, knocking in a loose ball after Tunas played a pass into the box.
Before overtime began, Oneonta had a player sent off with his second yellow card, but Cortland could not take advantage and after 20 scoreless minutes, the game went into penalty kicks to determine the team that would advance.
Each team was unsuccessful on its first attempts. Kelly then made a save on Ruiz's shot. Cortland went up 1-0 on a conversion by Tunas. The teams then traded the next two goals, leaving Cortland ahead 3-2 with the fifth attempt to follow. After Oneonta converted to keep its hopes alive, Miner knocked in his shot that sent Cortland to the championship game.
Cortland 1, Oneonta 1 (2OT)
Scoring Summary (Goals-Assists):
Oneonta: Roberto Ventura 1-0, Alejandro Ruiz 0-1
Cortland:
Jake Keller 1-0,
Miguel Tunas 0-1
Halftime: Cortland 0, Oneonta 0
End of Regulation: Cortland 1, Oneonta 1
Shots: Cortland 12, Oneonta 9
Corner Kicks: Oneonta 5, Cortland 3
Fouls: Oneonta 19, Cortland 16
Saves: Nicholas Giordano (Oneonta) 4 (1 GA in 110:00);
Sean Kelly (Cortland) 5 (1 GA in 110:00)
Record after game: Cortland (Red Dragons) 15-1-3, (ranked 6th in Div. III); Oneonta (Red Dragons) 10-4-5
