OSWEGO, N.Y. – The nationally-25th ranked Cortland men's soccer team scored three times in the second half to claim a 3-1 victory at Oswego in SUNYAC action on Wednesday evening. Cortland improves to 8-3-3 (2-1-1 SUNYAC), while Oswego is now 6-2-3 (1-2-1 SUNYAC).

Sam LaMendola (Buffalo/Williamsville South) netted his first collegiate goal, while Muiz Bayewu (Lagos, Nigeria/Albany, NY) and Yasin Choukri (Wilton, CT) both scored for the Red Dragons. Jordan Ott (Fort Worth, TX/Southwest Christian) made two saves in goal for the victory. Matias Valenzuela Matic (Santiago, Chile/Northwood School), Scott Schuyler (Cincinnatus), and Alex Lessman (Plainview/Plainview-Old Bethpage) each recorded an assist.

Chris Smith scored the lone Oswego goal, and Kyle Rose made four saves.

After an hour delay due to thunder, the game started slowly with no shot attempts in the opening ten minues. Cortland was unable to find the target on any of its three shots in the first, while Ott was called to action on two shots on goal, stopping both of them as the game remained scoreless into halftime.
Cortland was able to break through off a corner kick in the 57th minute, as LaMendola headed home Valenzuela Matic's cross, sparking a celebration that involved the entire Cortland team near the corner flag.

The Red Dragons continued to press for more goals, as Matt Shultz (Oneonta) sent a curling shot just wide of the post in the 63rd minute.

Just two minutes later, Cortland extended its lead to two on Bayewu's second goal in the past three games. Schuyler sent a cross from the right side, and Bayewu attempted to take a touch with his chest. The ball bounced hard off Bayewu's chest, but the senior was able to recover and poke a right-footed shot past an onrushing goalkeeper to make it 2-0.

Choukri made it 3-0 in the 77th minute, taking a pass from Lessman down the right sideline, cutting to beat a defender, and whipping a left-footed shot from outside the box into the top left corner to complete the scoring for Cortland.

The Lakers pulled a goal back on a penalty kick in the 79th minute after a foul in the box, as Smith went low and to the left as Ott dove the other way.
Cortland held Oswego without a shot in the final minutes to secure the win.
 
Cortland 3, Oswego 1

Scoring Summary (Goals-Assists):
Cortland: Sam LaMendola 1-0, Muiz Bayewu 1-0, Yasin Choukri 1-0, Matias Valenzuela Matic 0-1, Scott Schuyler 0-1, Alex Lessman 0-1
Oswego: Chris Smith 1-0

Halftime: Cortland 0, Oswego 0
Shots: Cortland 11, Oswego 5
Corner Kicks: Cortland 6, Oswego 5
Fouls: Cortland 14, Oswego 10
 
Saves: Jordan Ott (Cortland) 2 saves (1 GA in 90:00), Kyle Rose (Oswego) 4 saves (3 GA in 90:00)
Record after game: Cortland (Red Dragons) 8-3-3, 2-1-1 SUNYAC; Oswego (Lakers) 6-2-3, 1-2-1 SUNYAC