Oneonta, NY - And then there was one.
In a match between two of the four teams that played in the final four in San Antonio a year ago, it was Montclair State that advanced into next weekend's sectional round of the NCAA Division III men's soccer tournament with a 4-3 shootout victory over SUNY Oneonta at Red Dragon Soccer Field today.
Montclair (19-2) is the only remaining 2011 final four team now, as both Ohio Wesleyan and Calvin were eliminated in the first round of the tournament. Ohio Wesleyan was the defending national champion. The Red Hawks now advance and will face either Trinity College (TX) or Mississippi College in the Sectional Tournament next weekend, November 16-18. The site and times of the tournament will be announced on Monday.
It is the fifth time in the last seven years the Montclair State has advanced to the Round of 16.
Montclair State and Oneonta (14-5-2) today battled to a 2-2 tie through regulation and both overtime periods to force the shootout session. In the shootout, it was Montclair goalkeeper,
Anthony Rogic (Boonton, NJ, Morris Catholic), who proved to be the difference maker.
Rogic started the shootout by stopping the first shot by Addison Straub
(Manlius/Fayetteville Manlius), as he dove to his right to knock the shot away. Rogic then stepped up and took the third kick, which he buried in the back of the goal to give Montclair a 2-0 advantage at the time.
“No goalkeeper really looks forward to taking a penalty kick,” said Rogic. “You have to remain focused and go with what I feel.”
Rogic continued, “As for saving kicks. I feel I have been good at that all my life. I look right into the eyes of the kicker.”
The Red Dragons battled back with three successive conversions by sophomore Scott Taglione
(Ballston Lake/Shenendehowa), and seniors Daniel Josepher and Ian Tenzer
(Mahopac/Mahopac), which forced the final kick to be taken by the Red Hawks.
Freshman
Lucas Terci (Union, NJ, Union) made no mistake and put the ball into the goal for the decisive shot and the victory.
“It's always a tough way to end the season,” said Oneonta coach Iain Byrne. “It was a great effort by both teams. We played some entertaining soccer this weekend and the crowd support was great.”
“It's a shame to have two top teams play so early in the tournament,” said Montclair coach Todd Tumelty. “Oneonta has a great team and we knew that today's game was going to be a battle based on seeing them compete in the final four last year.”
Tumelty concluded, “I am proud of my guys and I am looking forward to entering the final 16 next weekend.”
Montclair found itself down twice during the match at 1-0 and 2-1. The second goal for the Red Hawks came in the 83rd minute when
BRIAN CULLEN one-time volleyed a crossing pass from the right flank by
Dan Mendoza (Hackensack, NJ, Hackensack).
Oneonta's senior duo of Alex Shkreli
(Bedford/Fox Lane) and Eric Fortier
(Pleasant Valley/Arlington) teamed up to put Oneonta ahead 1-0 in the 16th minute of the game. Fortier made a great through pass to Shkreli, who one-touched it by Rogic.
Montclair tied the game in the 28th minute on a great individual effort by leading scorer
Almir Batista (Kearny, NJ, Kearny). Batista got loose in the box and fired a shot that was initially blocked by an Oneonta defender, but on the rebound, he was able to get his head on the ball to put it past the defense into the goal.
The go-ahead goal for Oneonta came in the 69th minute by freshman Jake Sutherland
(Syracuse/West Genesee), who had just entered the game. Sutherland got his head on a crossing pass from the left flank by classmate Brian Bartichek
(Massapequa Park/Massapequa), who had hustled to win the ball and then created some space to send the pass into the box.
NCAA Division III Men's Soccer Bracket
