CORTLAND, N.Y. – Matt Shultz (Oneonta) scored three times and broke the Cortland career goal-scoring record as the nationally 21st-ranked Cortland men's soccer team earned a 5-0 victory over Fredonia on Wednesday in State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) action on Wednesday evening on Holloway Field. Cortland has won three straight games and is 10-3-3 (4-1-1 SUNYAC), while Fredonia drops to 6-8-2 (1-5 SUNYAC).

Shultz's three goals came on six shots on target for Cortland, and his 36 career goals give him one more than David Wright (1978-81) and Mike Borra (1989-92), who each scored 35 goals in their careers. The Red Dragons also received goals from Yasin Choukri (Wilton, CT) and Matias Valenzuela Matic (Santiago, Chile/Northwood School). Jordan Miller (Jericho) and Josh Carroll (Port Jefferson Station/Comsewogue) each had an assist. Jordan Ott (Fort Worth, TX/Southwest Christian) stopped all four shots on goal that he faced for his second straight shutout.

Four different players had a shot on goal for the Blue Devils, and Jack Phelan stopped seven shots in just under 70 minutes in goal.

Fredonia came out strong in the opening minutes, and had the first shot of the game in the second minute, which Ott was able to comfortably stop.

Choukri gave Cortland the lead in the eighth minute, taking a pass from Alex Lessman (Plainview/Plainview-Old Bethpage), dribbling past a defender and then performing a juke to cause another defender to fall, before firing a right-footed shot into the top right corner of the net.

Cortland continued to press Fredonia, and got a second goal in the 21st minute. Carroll had an initial shot saved, then one cleared off the line by a defender, and then a third shot blocked right to Shultz, who pounced on the loose ball and sent it into the bottom right corner for his ninth goal of the season.

The Red Dragons were close to adding a third goal in the 27th minute, but Stalyn Acosta (Brentwood) was denied of a goal by Phelan after a cross from Cade Denlinger (Elizabethtown, PA/Elizabethtown Area).

Shultz made it 3-0 just before halftime, dribbling past a defender and then rounding the keeper before firing into an open goal, tying the goals record with 1:05 left until halftime.

Fredonia had an opportunity in the 56th minute to close the gap, but a strong interception down the right sideline by Sam LaMendola (Buffalo/Williamsville South) stopped Fredonia's leading scorer Brian Taylor from getting alone on goal.   

Shultz completed his hat trick and broke the scoring record in the 70th minute, as Miller sent a through ball down the left side, and Shultz blew past a defender and then sent a right-footed shot into the top right corner of the net.

Cortland added a fifth goal in the final five minutes of the contest from the penalty spot, as Valenzuela Matic stepped up and smashed a right-footed shot into the top left corner of the net for his first goal of the season.

Cortland 5, Fredonia 0
Scoring Summary (Goals-Assists):
Cortland: Matt Shultz 3-0, Yasin Choukri 1-0, Matias Valenzuela Matic 1-0, Jordan Miller 0-1, Josh Carroll 0-1
Fredonia: none

Halftime: Cortland 3, Fredonia 0
Shots: Cortland 34, Fredonia 5
Corner Kicks: Cortland 6, Fredonia 3
Fouls: Cortland 9, Fredonia 9
 
Saves: Jordan Ott (Cortland) 4 saves (0 GA in 90:00), Jack Phelan (Fredonia) 7 saves (4 GA in 69:14), Thomas McDonald (Fredonia) 1 save (1 GA in 20:46)
Record after game: Cortland (Red Dragons) 10-3-3, 4-1-1 SUNYAC; Fredonia (Blue Devils) 6-8-2, 1-5 SUNYAC