CORTLAND, N.Y. – Junior Riley Williams (Watertown/South Jefferson) scored his first goal of the season in the second half and the nationally ninth-ranked Cortland men's soccer team held off late heavy pressure to secure a 1-0 win versus Oneonta Friday afternoon in SUNYAC action at Holloway Field.

With the win, the host Red Dragons improved to 13-2-1 overall and 7-1 in the conference and can claim the top seed in the upcoming league playoffs with a win or tie versus New Paltz on Saturday. The visiting Red Dragons fell to 9-3-2 and 5-2-1.

Junior goalie Braden Melveney (Syracuse/Cicero-North Syracuse) made seven saves for Cortland in posting his eighth shutout of the season. Junior goalie Nate Hanna (Baldwinsville/C.W. Baker) registered four saves for Oneonta.

Although the game was often played at a deliberate pace, each team generated several quality chances throughout the 90 minutes. Cortland created the first two opportunities. In the 16th minute, Hanna made a leaping save on a one-time shot by Cortland graduate student Nicholas Pfeiffer (Commack) off a loose ball after a corner kick. In the 19th minute, Cortland sophomore Jack Coleman (Endwell/Maine-Endwell) had his bid from the left side denied by Hanna.

Four minutes later, Oneonta sophomore John Bernardi (Mahopac) curled a 25-yard shot just over the crossbar. In the 42nd minute, Coleman was alone deep on the left side of the box and struck a loose ball that Hanna saved. Melveney followed with a diving save near the left post on a shot by Oneonta senior (Jeremy Pantoni (Goshen) in the 43rd minute to keep the game scoreless.

The visiting Red Dragons nearly struck for the game's first goal in the 58th minute, but sophomore Aaron Harrison (Archbald, PA/Valley) barely missed high with an open shot from 25 yards out. Riley struck for the game winner in the 65th minute. After a Cortland player was fouled just outside the box on the right side, Williams bent a direct kick into the left corner of the goal to give the host Red Dragons the 1-0 lead.

Oneonta turned up the offensive pressure late, earning eight of its 12 corner kicks in the game after the Williams goal. In the 70th minute, Melveney was forced to make a diving save at the right post on a shot by Oneonta junior Ethan Brunell (Clifton Park/Shenendehowa). In the 84th minute, Oneonta junior Lucas Fecci (Somers) dribbled through several defenders to set up his shot deep in the box from the right side, but Melveney denied the shot as the ball went over the end line. Oneonta had one final shot sail high with 45 seconds remaining, and Cortland was able to keep the ball out of danger and seal the 1-0 victory.

Cortland 1, Oneonta 0

Scoring Summary (Goals-Assists):
Oneonta: no scoring
Cortland: Riley Williams 1-0

Halftime: Cortland 0, Oneonta 0
Shots: Oneonta 19, Cortland 7
Corner Kicks: Oneonta 12, Cortland 4
Fouls: Cortland 9, Oneonta 7
Saves: Nate Hanna (Oneonta) 4 saves (1 GA in 90:00); Braden Melveney (Cortland) 7 saves (0 GA in 90:00)

Record after game: Oneonta (Red Dragons) 9-3-2, 5-2-1 SUNYAC; Cortland (Red Dragons) 13-2-1, 7-1 SUNYAC (ranked 9th nationally in Div. III)