GRANTHAM, PA. – The nationally 23rd-ranked Cortland men's soccer team opened up a 2-0 first-half lead and played to a 2-2 double-overtime tie at nationally top-ranked and defending Div. III national champion Messiah Friday night in the season-opening game for both teams.

Senior Leke Dossou (Hamburg, Germany/Otto-Hahn) and freshman Anthony Ruggiero (Holtsville/Sachem East) netted goals for the Red Dragons. Senior Dan Figarella (Wappingers Falls/John Jay East Fishkill) recorded an assist. Junior Sean Kelly (Coram/Newfield) made five saves in his first career start in goal.

Brit Haseltine and Joseph King each scored for Messiah with Lucas Kokolios picking up an assist. Goalie Connor Bell did not stop a shot.

Ruggiero gave Cortland a 1-0 lead just 3:26 into the game when he drove a shot inside the right post after a carry up the middle. Dossou then tallied his goal in the 24th minute after he collected a loose ball and beat Bell. Haseltine cut Messiah's deficit to 2-1 in the 31st minute with a shot from the middle of the box.

King's goal in the 54th minute sent the game into extra time. The Falcons outshot Cortland, 3-1, through the first 10-minute overtime period and controlled much of the play in the second overtime period, outshooting the Red Dragons, 3-0, with a shot hitting the crossbar.

Cortland returns to action on Saturday with a 5 p.m. game at Gettysburg.
  
Cortland 2, Messiah 2 (2OT)

Scoring Summary (Goals-Assists):
Cortland: Anthony Ruggiero 1-0, Leke Dossou 1-0, Dan Figarella 0-1
Messiah: Brit Haseltine 1-0, Joseph King 1-0, Lucas Kokolios 0-1

Halftime: Cortland 2, Messiah 1
Shots: Messiah 19, Cortland 11
Corner Kicks: Cortland 7, Messiah 2
Fouls: Cortland 22, Messiah 6
Saves: Sean Kelly (Cortland) 5 (2 GA in 110:00); Connor Bell (Messiah) 0 (2 GA in 110:00)

Record after game: Cortland (Red Dragons) 0-0-1 (ranked 23rd in Div. III); Messiah (Falcons) 0-0-1 (ranked 1st in Div. III)