UTICA, N.Y. – The nationally-13th ranked Cortland men's soccer team scored a goal in each half, and held off a late rally from the opposition, in a 2-1 victory on the road over Utica on Wednesday evening. The Red Dragons improved to 3-0-0 on the season, while the Pioneers are now 0-1-1.
Yasin Choukri (Wilton, C.T.) and Matt Shultz (Oneonta) each scored a goal for the Red Dragons, the second consecutive game with a goal for Choukri and the third straight game scoring for Shultz. Cade Denlinger (Elizabethtown, P.A./Elizabethtown Area) registered an assist. Jordan Ott (Fort Worth, T.X./Southwest Christian) turned aside four shots in goal for Cortland.
Jalen Lucero scored Utica's goal, with an assist by Evan Smith. Foti Xidias made two saves in goal for the Pioneers.
The Pioneers started quickly with two shots on goal in the opening five minutes, both of which Ott was able to turn aside. The Red Dragons quickly gained momentum, controlling play and holding Utica without a shot on target over the final 40 minutes of action in the half.
In the 25th minute, Mateo Marra (Ossining) saw his free kick from a dangerous position a few yards outside the penalty area sail just past the left post. One minute later, Choukri got the Red Dragons on the board, dribbling around a defender to the end line and firing a right-footed shot past the keeper at the near post.
Cortland looked to double the lead in the following minutes, but Shultz dragged a shot wide right from the left side of goal. The Red Dragons couldn't muster a shot on goal in the final minutes of the half despite a few solid chances, leading 1-0 into halftime.
Denlinger had a strong opportunity to extend the lead just after the hour mark, but his shot attempt went off to the left after a scrum in the penalty area.
Just four minutes later, he assisted Cortland's second goal with a long ball over the top of the defense from near midfield. Shultz ran in behind the back line to collect the pass on a bounce, and finished into the top right corner of the net before the onrushing goalkeeper could arrive.
With under 20 minutes remaining, Ott diverted a shot off the crossbar to maintain the Cortland advantage, and Denlinger made a clearance at the back post to deny a Utica forward from receiving a cross. The Pioneers used a stroke of good luck to pull to within a goal with under seven minutes remaining, after a failed clearance fell to the feet of Lucero, who tucked it inside the post.
Utica pressed for an equalizer in the final minutes, but the Red Dragons were able to thwart the comeback attempt with a blocked shot and a save by Ott in the final three minutes to secure the victory.
Cortland 2, Utica 1
Scoring Summary (Goals-Assists):
Cortland: Matt Shultz 1-0, Yasin Choukri 1-0, Cade Denlinger 0-1
Utica: Jalen Lucero 1-0, Evan Smith 0-1
Halftime: Cortland 1, Utica 0
Shots: Cortland 16, Utica 8
Corner Kicks: Cortland 6, Utica 3
Fouls: Cortland 8, Utica 3
Saves: Jordan Ott (Cortland) 4 saves (1 GA in 90:00), Foti Xidias (Utica) 2 saves (2 GA in 90:00)
Record after game: Cortland (Red Dragons) 3-0-0 (ranked 13th nationally in Div. III); Utica (Pioneers) 0-1-1
