The Geneseo men’s soccer team finished a pivotal stretch of three games in five days with a record of 1-1-1. A setback against SUNY Fredonia followed by a draw with Buffalo State College and a win against Alfred University places the team’s overall record at 2-4-2.
On Friday Sept. 21, Geneseo traveled to Fredonia to take on the Blue Devils. The Knights “came out at the opening whistle with no real intensity,” head coach Dominic Oliveri said in an email interview.
Just moments into the second half, a Fredonia player was sent off for deliberately handling the ball in the box. Sophomore Neil Allen converted the resulting penalty kick and put the Knights up 1-0 with his second goal of the year. Less than a minute later, Fredonia evened the score by redirecting a through ball past junior goalie Dan Maddock.
The score remained tied until the 84th minute, when the Blue Devils scored on a penalty kick. The Knights could not find an equalizer in the final minutes and dropped the first match of the road trip.
Geneseo traveled west to face the Buffalo State Bengals on Saturday Sept. 22. In contrast to their previous game, the Knights came out ready to play. Geneseo limited the hosts to only two shots on goal, and senior goaltender Nick Voggel saved both.
On the offensive end, Geneseo tallied a total eight shots on target. Neither team could find the back of the net. Geneseo had its best chance in the second overtime in a loose-ball situation in front of the Bengals net, but a Buffalo State defender cleared the ball to eliminate the threat and the game ended scoreless.
Just three days later, Geneseo traveled for a nonleague matchup against the Alfred University Saxons. In a pregame email interview, Oliveri said this match was especially important in order to build the team’s confidence.
The Knights scored first in the 34th minute when freshman defender Andrew Stein sent a long pass over the Alfred defense to sophomore Richard Bellusci, who curved it around the goalie for his first career goal.
Geneseo struck again after halftime when junior Pat Lynch sent a free kick toward the Alfred goal. Junior teammate Craig Schackner, waiting inside the six-yard box, volleyed the ball into the net for his second tally of the season. The Knights held onto their lead for the remaining time, with Voggel making six saves to preserve the shutout.
Geneseo hosts the SUNY New Paltz Hawks on Friday Sept. 28.