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As the Oneonta State men's soccer team prepares to meet Baldwin Wallace in the first round of the NCAA Div. III tournament on Saturday at 1:30pm, the Red Dragons are hoping that they continue to use its home field advantage to advance past the opening weekend of this year's tournament.  Oneonta plays the second game of the day on Saturday with Hobart College facing Penn State Behrend in the opener at 11am.  The two winners will meet on Sunday afternoon beginning at 1pm.

Admission to all games are $6 for general admission; $3 for seniors and students;  $2 for children aged 3-12;

Oneonta (14-2-2) has not lost at home since Oct. 3, 2009, a streak that has built itself to 24 games without a loss, which is a program record set after its win this past Saturday in the SUNYAC championship game versus Brockport, 1-0.

“With Oneonta being such a soccer hotbed, the local support has been overwhelming and we are anticipating another great turnout this weekend,” head coach Iain Byrne said.  “The crowds at our games this season have been large and boisterous, and I feel that has played a large part in our performances.

Byrne is currently in his ninth season at Oneonta and he has an overall record of 101-48-22.  In Oneonta's semifinal win against Plattsburgh last Wednesday, he reached 100 career wins as a head coach.  Byrne has guided the program through the transition from Div. I to Div. III.

On being in the NCAA tournament Byrne said, “It's a great feeling to be in the NCAA tournament. With our college's rich history in college soccer, I hope this is the breakthrough our program has been looking for to reestablish Oneonta on the national stage.”

Byrne added, “It's taken us four years to get here, but all the effort and sacrifice has been worthwhile. The SUNYAC Conference is one of the toughest in the country and it requires the commitment to creating a winning attitude, which our players have done.  I am proud of each player on this team.  They have made the sacrifice and they deserve to be playing against the best teams in Div. III.”

The unbeaten streak at home is not the only streak that Oneonta will enter the tournament with this weekend.  The Red Dragons are currently riding a 15-game unbeaten streak that includes 10 straight wins.  Oneonta is 13-0-2 during the streak with the only two blemishes being versus Christopher Newport and Cortland.  The 1-1 tie against Christopher Newport was back on Sep. 16 when the Captains were the No. 1 team in the NSCAA coaches' poll.  The Captains won its conference and are playing in the NCAA tournament with a record of 17-0-1.  The two teams are on the same side of the bracket, which means they could face each other again in the final four in San Antonio on Dec. 2.

The Oneonta State men's soccer team is making its first appearance in the NCAA Div. III tournament in 2011 after winning its first SUNYAC title since joining the ranks of Div. III in 2006.  Prior to 2006, Oneonta competed in Div. I before officially joining Div. III.  During that time, Oneonta made four consecutive appearances in the NCAA tournament from 1972-75.  In 1972, the Red Dragons played in the small college national championship game.  Also, during that time, Oneonta competed in the SUNYAC as a full member, eligible for the conference championship.  The last SUNYAC championship for Oneonta came in 1985 when they captured its only other tournament title.

Oneonta's last year in the SUNYAC was 1988, before rejoining the conference in 2007.  The Red Dragons did play a full conference schedule in 2007, going 11-0, but they weren't eligible for the SUNYAC tournament until 2008.  Since that time, Oneonta has qualified for the conference tournament, earning the top seed each of the last two years.

As a team, Oneonta has outscored its opponents 44-15 while having a huge advantage in shots at 269-152.  Oneonta's stingy defense has held its opponents to less than one goal per game while recording eight shutouts.

Individually, the Red Dragons have five players who have registered double-digits in points led by juniors Eric Fortier (Pleasant Valley/Arlington) (Pleasant Valley/Arlington) and Dan Josepher (Manorville/Eastport/South Manor) (Manorville/Eastport South Manor), who have 23 and 21 points respectively.  Both are tied for the team lead with 10 goals.  Fortier leads the team with three game-winners while Josepher has contributed one game-winning goal.

Senior Gary Laronde (Wheatley Heights/Half Hollow Hills) (Wheatley Heights/Half Hollow Hills), who was the MVP of the SUNYAC tournament, is third with 16 points on six goals and four assists.  Junior Alex Shkreli (Bedford/Fox Lane) (Bedford/Fox Lane) and freshman Justin Rivera (Bay Shore/Bay Shore) (Bay Shore/Bay Shore) are both tied with 12 points on four goals and four assists each.  Rivera was selected to the SUNYAC All-Tournament Team after scoring the game-winner on Saturday.

When asked about the tournament and what it means to the team and him, Laronde had this to say, “Being able to play in the NCAA tournament means a lot to the team and myself. Since a year ago when we were knocked out of the semi-finals of the SUNYAC tournament, as a team we agreed that we wouldn't settle for anything less than a run at the NCAA's.  Since that day we committed ourselves while staying focused on what needed to be done. It's truly a great feeling to see all our hard work pay off right now.”

On being a senior on the team that is playing in the NCAA tournament for the first time in nearly 40 years Laronde added, “This is possibly one of the best feelings and one of the most memorable moments of my life.  Since I arrived here as a freshman we have been trying to build a team chemistry within and each year we always seemed to fall just a little short.  It took us four, but we finally found that chemistry.  We all fit and flow together where the level of seniority and freshmen are gone and we just view each other as equal teammates and that has been a huge factor in our success this year.”

In the goal, it has been senior Maxwell Siegelman (Roslyn/Roslyn) (Roslyn/Roslyn) who has been the mainstay for the Red Dragons this fall.  Siegelman is 13-1-2 overall with four shutouts and a goals against average of 0.94.  He has logged 1,338 minutes and has made 37 saves.

“As a senior on this team, it means our program is getting stronger year in and year out. Coach Byrne and our coaching staff are doing a great job bringing in student-athletes who blend together on and off the field, which is the most important thing next to our skills on the field,” said Siegelman.  “The biggest honor I have had in my four years here is being a part of a team who has made it this far.”

Oneonta has played three teams that are in this year's NCAA tournament field of 61.  Oneonta defeated Brockport twice, tied Christopher Newport 1-1 at home and lost to St. Lawrence, 3-2 in the second game of the season.

If Oneonta advances past this weekend they will head to the sectional round at a site and date to be determined at the conclusion of all second round games.  The national championship weekend is scheduled for Dec 2 & 3 at Blossom Stadium in San Antonio, TX.

Saturday's first round opponent is making its first ever appearance in the NCAA tournament.  The Yellow Jackets are 16-5 overall and received one of the 20 at-large berths to the tournament.  Baldwin Wallace competes in the Ohio Athletic Conference.