FIGHTING TIGERS SPLIT DECISIONS AT SUNY COBLESKILL CLASSIC

In the fast paced world of junior college soccer no sooner does the season start than you are several games into the year. After falling to nationally ranked number six Cayuga Community College on the road in Auburn, NY on Thursday by a 2-1 margin in overtime the SUNY Cobleskill men’s soccer team split a pair of decisions in their opening SUNY Cobleskill Classic over the weekend.

The Fighting Tigers opened the tournament with a dramatic 2-1 overtime victory over Jamestown Community College on Saturday then fell to Alfred State College on Sunday in a heartbreaking 1-0 decision. Cobleskill is currently 1-2 overall on the season.

Against Jamestown the Fighting Tigers trailed 1-0 with 5:45 remaining in regulation when freshman Josh Cookfair, Scotia NY, Schalmont High School, took a pass from senior Devin Stickle, Downsville NY, Downsville Central High School, and found the back of the Jayhawks net. Cobleskill put the contest in the victory with 7:39 to go in the overtime period when freshman Hugh Campbell, Bronx, NY, Evander Chiles High School, scored from in front of the Jamestown net on assists from his high school teammate freshman Don Harrison, Bronx, NY, Evander Chiles High School, and freshman Tom Wickham, Broadalbin NY, Broadalbin-Perth High School.

On Sunday the Fighting Tigers could not take advantage of 15 shots on goal and 21 restart opportunities as the Pioneers took the tournament title on forward Colin Coons 25 yard first half goal. Senior goalkeeper Scott Bergen, Schenectady, NY, Mohonasen High School, was otherwise perfect in the nets with seven saves on the day for Cobleskill.

“This weekend gave us a clear indication as to where we are as opposed to last year,” said Fighting Tiger Head Coach Rob Szmarz. “I was proud of the way that we came back on Saturday and impressed with the number of quality scoring opportunities that we had throughout the weekend. We now have to start capitalizing on those opportunities. In short we need to finish and we’ll be alright.”

The Fighting Tigers will next host the Generals of Herkimer Community College on Tuesday September 6th beginning at 4:00 PM at the SUNY Cobleskill Soccer Complex in the opener of the Mountain Valley Conference season. The Generals enter the contest ranked second in the NJCAA Division III National Poll with a 2-0 overall mark.