Cobleskill, NY – The SUNY Cobleskill men's soccer team battled throughout the afternoon but came up short against Husson University, falling 4-0 in North Atlantic Conference play on Saturday at the Cobleskill Soccer Complex.
Spencer Reisman (Youngstown, NY) led the Fighting Tigers' attack with two shots on target, while
Gavin McEnroe (Burlington Flats, NY) came close to giving Cobleskill the lead in the first half when his strike sailed just over the crossbar.
Robert Mahon (Pensacola, FL) also registered a shot on goal as the Tigers continued to press against a strong Husson backline. Defensively, junior center backs
Garrett Aikins (Morris, NY) and
Samuel Spraker (Broadalbin-Perth, NY) anchored the Cobleskill defense with several key tackles and clearances.
In goal,
Adam Champlin (South Kortright, NY) and
Joe Wille (Gilboa, NY) split time between the posts. Champlin was sharp in the opening 45 minutes, recording eight saves - several of them in highlight fashion - on 10 shots faced. Wille took over in the second half and added a save of his own.
Husson held the edge statistically, outshooting Cobleskill 22-6 overall and 13-3 in shots on goal. The Eagles also finished with a 10-4 advantage in corner kicks.
The Tigers nearly struck first when
Declan McCracken (South Kortright, NY) flicked a ball to McEnroe, who found himself in behind the defense but fired narrowly over the bar. Husson responded with the opening goal in the 11th minute, capitalizing on a loose ball in the box that was turned in by Arik Weinstein. The visitors doubled their lead in the 20th minute, but Cobleskill's defense tightened up from there, with Champlin making several key stops to keep it a 2-0 game going into halftime.
The second half was evenly played for the opening 20 minutes, with both sides trading midfield battles and limited chances. The Eagles extended their lead to 3-0 after converting a penalty kick in the 62nd minute, then added a late goal to seal the 4-0 result. Despite the scoreline, the Tigers showed strong organization and resilience against one of the NAC's top attacking sides.
Up Next:
The Fighting Tigers return to the Cobleskill Soccer Complex tomorrow, October 12, to host the University of Maine–Presque Isle in another North Atlantic Conference matchup, with kickoff set for 2:30 p.m.
