Alfred, NY – The SUNY Cobleskill men's soccer team dropped a 5-0 SUNYAC road decision to Alfred State on Saturday evening at Pioneer Stadium.
With 20 different Tigers seeing action,
Gavin McEnroe (Burlington Flats, NY) led the Cobleskill attack with a shot on goal, while
Austin Galley (Edmeston, NY) added the Tigers' other attempt. First-year goalkeeper
Sean Hanrahan (Elmira, NY) made eight saves over 81 minutes in net, while fellow first-year keeper
Nathaniel Harrington (Walton, NY) closed out the final eight minutes.
Alfred State finished with a 20-2 advantage in total shots and a 13-1 edge in shots on goal. The Pioneers also held a 9-1 advantage in corner kicks.
The hosts opened the scoring in the fifth minute when Aaron Salisbury finished a low cross to give Alfred State an early 1-0 lead. From there, the Pioneers controlled much of the possession, but Cobleskill's backline stayed compact and organized to keep the match within reach. The Tigers nearly found the equalizer in the 27th minute when Galley got on the end of a corner kick and drove his effort off the crossbar. McEnroe also tested the Alfred State goalkeeper in the final minute of the half, forcing a save before the teams went into the break with the Pioneers leading 1-0.
Hanrahan was active throughout the opening 45 minutes, coming off his line when needed and making several key saves to help the Tigers stay within one.
Cobleskill continued to defend well early in the second half, but Alfred State finally added to its lead in the 63rd minute when Ryan Masi capitalized on a turnover and struck from roughly 25 yards out, beating a diving Hanrahan to make it 2-0. The Tigers looked for a response, but a quick two-goal stretch in the 75th and 77th minutes allowed the Pioneers to create separation. Alfred State added its final goal in the 87th minute to close out the scoring.
Up Next:
The Fighting Tigers return home on Wednesday, October 21, when they host Plattsburgh State in SUNYAC action at the Soccer/Lacrosse Complex. Kickoff is scheduled for 3 p.m.
