FREDONIA, N.Y. -- After a well-played game, the Fredonia State men's soccer team fell 1-0 late in double overtime to Mt. Saint Mary after an own goal was tipped in with 1:38 left to play. The Knight's Joseph Mesoraca made a crossing pass. In an attempt to slow the ball down, the Devils tipped the ball into their own net to give the Knights the victory.
Devil netminder
William Richardson played a solid game in goal, stopping several difficult shots and collecting nine saves. Zach Decker earned the win in shutout fashion for the visitors, stopping three shots.
Neither team mustered much offense the first half. The best chance for either team came when Mt. Saint Mary's Peter Ramirez had a breakaway and fired a shot as Richardson charged him. Richardson's aggressiveness forced a soft shot that trickled out of play just inches from the open net.
In the 54th minute, Richardson turned away a short-range blast from the foot of Mt. Saint Mary's Matt Flanagan for a spectacular save.
In the second half, the Devils had a couple opportunities to score with just under 12 minutes on the clock. Off a free kick, a header went high over the goalie. Thirty seconds later off a corner kick,
Kaleb Steward attempted another header that again went just over the crossbar.
At the end of regulation, Mt. Saint Mary held a 15-14 edge in shots, and a 9-3 advantage in shots on goal.
Inside the last minute of the first overtime, the Kinights had a breakaway opportunity. Fredonia State's
Imani Paluku slid into a the ball and deflected it away before a shot could be taken. On the ensuing corner kick, the Knights headed the ball over the net, again failing to score.
In the overtime, the Knights managed two shots on goal, and the Devils did not challenge Decker.
Fredonia State falls to 1-2 on the season, and has seen each of its three games go into overtime. The Knights improve to 1-2.
The Blue Devils take on Houghton College Saturday at 3:00. The Highlanders fell to Buffalo State, 3-1, on Friday. Mount St. Mary plays Buffalo State, also at 3:00, on the turf field.
