FIGHTING TIGER MEN’S SOCCER STAYS IN PLAY-OFF HUNT DOWNS TCCC 1-0

After a heartbreaking 1-0 loss at Mohawk Valley Community College in Utica, NY on Monday the SUNY Cobleskill men’s soccer team returned to the road hunting for a NJCAA Region III Division III play-off spot traveling to windy Dryden, NY to meet the highly ranked Panthers of Tompkins-Cortland Community College. When the fur stopped flying it was the Fighting Tigers proving to be the bigger cat bettering the Panthers in dramatic fashion by a 1-0 margin to reignite their play-off drive. Cobleskill is currently 6-4-1 and ranked fourth in the NJCAA Region III Division III Coach’s Poll.

With one second left in the first half freshman midfielder Tom Wickham, Broadalbin, NY, Broadalbin-Perth High School, took a crossing pass from freshman Gilbert Francillon, Brooklyn, NY, Midwood High School, finding the back of the Panther net. Freshman Don Harrison, Bronx, NY, Evander Childs, also recorded an assist on the play. When play resumed in the second half Cobleskill turned back their hosts determined offense to post the shutout and secure the victory.”

“We won this game with 90 minutes of hard work and we deserved the victory based on the effort we put out throughout every minute we played,” said a jubilant Fighting Tiger Head Coach Robert Szmarz. “After losing two days ago 1-0 at Mohawk Valley this was a great quality win for our guys and I’m very proud of them. We controlled the game in the first half we controlled possession and it paid off with one second left in the half when we scored. In the second half they controlled possession but our defense did a great job of minimizing Tompkins-Cortland’s quality scoring opportunities.”

Shining in the goal for the Fighting Tigers; senior goalkeeper Scott Bergen, Schenectady, NY, Mohonasen High School, picked the right day to post the first shutout of his playing career at any level. The shutout victory was also the first time the Cobleskill defense had blanked the opposition this season. Bergen recorded seven saves in the contest to break the Panthers seven game unbeaten streak dropping the home team to 6-3-1 on the season.

The Fighting Tigers will continue their road swing in search of a play-off bid on Monday October 3rd when they travel to Morrisville, NY to meet the Mustangs of Morrisville State College for a Mountain Valley Conference scheduled to begin at 4:00 PM.