CORTLAND, NY – Sam LaMendola (Buffalo/Williamsville South) and
Josh Carroll (Port Jefferson Station, NY/Comsewogue) both scored to give the Red Dragons a two-goal lead, and the Cortland men's soccer team held off a late rally from nationally 23rd-ranked Vassar for a 2-1 victory under the lights on Holloway Field on Saturday evening. Cortland improves to 3-0 on the year, while Vassar suffers its first defeat and falls to 2-1.
LaMendola's goal was his first of the season, while Carroll found the back of the net for the team-leading third time this year.
Scott Schuyler (Cincinnatus) provided an assist on Carroll's goal.
Jordan Ott (Fort Worth, TX/Southwest Christian) made four saves in goal for the Red Dragons.
Isaac Taegar scored Vassar's lone goal, with Arden Tobolski assisting. Jacob Raphan stopped four shots in a losing effort for the Brewers.
Tobolski had the best chance to open the scoring early in the contest, firing a shot from the top of the 18-yard box that flashed just wide of the right post.
Cortland was denied of the opening goal in the 37th minute, when Carroll fired a shot from long range that was saved off the crossbar by Raphan. Five minutes later,
Gabe Garcia streaked down the right sideline towards goal, but nobody was able to get on the other end of his cross through a dangerous area.
LaMendola gave the Red Dragons the lead just before halftime, blasting a low shot into the bottom left corner of the net after a partial clearance by a Vassar defender with 1:04 left in the half.
Cortland doubled its advantage early in the second half. A shot by Schuyler was saved but couldn't be corralled by Raphan, and Carroll was able to pounce on the rebound in the 49th minute to make it 2-0.
The Brewers got on the board in the 67th minute, as Tobolski sent a through ball from just past midfield down the right sideline to the edge of the 18-yard box, where Taeger collected the pass and dribbled around Ott before depositing a low shot into the open net.
Vassar pushed for an equalizer over the final minutes, and had an excellent opportunity to tie the score with just over a minute remaining in the contest. After a foul just a yard outside the 18-yard box, Tobolski ripped a free-kick shot to the right of the post.
After one final shot wide by Vassar in the closing seconds, Ott was able to send a goal kick down the field to secure the win for the Red Dragons.
