Potsdam, N.Y.—The SUNY Potsdam men’s soccer team jumped out to an early 1-0 lead against SUNY Oneonta (8-3-2, 5-2 SUNYAC), but the Red Dragons answered with two of their own to go on to the 2-1 victory. Junior midfielder Chris Mack (South Glens Falls, N.Y./South Glens Falls) scored for the Bears and sophomore midfielder Daniel Josepher (Manorville, N.Y./Eastport-South Manor) notched both goals for Oneonta.

The Bears wasted no time in grabbing the early lead. Just over five minutes into the game the Red Dragons committed a foul and Potsdam was awarded a direct kick just outside the Oneonta box. Bears’ junior defender Victor Colasacco (Oceanside, N.Y./Oceanside) lofted a kick toward the right goal post. The ball bounced off several bodies in front to junior forward Chris Nieves (Saratoga, N.Y./South Glens Falls). Nieves then fed Mack who buried his shot for the 1-0 Potsdam lead at the 5:28 mark. The Red Dragons controlled the play for much of the rest of the half, but the Bears defense played well, not allowing a great chance until under a minute remaining. However, Oneonta made the most of the opportunity as sophomore midfielder Jeff Christian (Middletown, N.Y./Minisink Valley) set up Josepher’s header to tie the score with 29.6 seconds on the clock.

Bears Head Coach Adam Parker said it was that late goal that really changed the complexion of the game.

“It wasn’t a goal in the 89th minute that hurt us today. It was a goal in the 44th minute,” said Parker. “If we had gone into the half 1-0 with the wind at our back I think it would have been so much tougher for them to get a goal.”

It was a much more wide open game in the second half, with each team trading ball control. Both defenses tightened up and neither team had solid scoring chances until later in the period. In the 76th minute,

Bears’ sophomore goalie Joe Glackin (Latham, N.Y./Shaker) robbed Red Dragon freshman defender Addison Straub (Endicott, N.Y./Union-Endicott) of a goal, deflecting it wide, but Josepher was there to drive home the game-winner. Potsdam got some late pressure on the Oneonta defense, but couldn’t tie the score.

Glackin made seven saves for the Bears, while Red Dragon junior goalkeeper Max Siegelman (Roslyn, N.Y./Roslyn) finished with three saves.

Coach Parker found some positives in another close loss.

“We’re disappointed with the loss, but we’re getting better each game,” Parker said. “So that’s something good we can take away from it.”

The Bears (2-10-1, 1-5) are headed to Western New York next weekend as they take on Fredonia on Oct. 15, at 4 p.m. and Buffalo State on Oct. 16, at 1 p.m.