MARCY, N.Y. – Leave a Wildcat men's soccer game early at your own risk.
The SUNY Polytechnic Men's Soccer Team (4-3-2) continued to find favorable trade winds in overtime on Tuesday night, scoring in the 94th minute to down a formidable non-conference opponent, the Medaille Mavericks (7-3). Four of SUNY Poly's nine contests so far this year have required extra time, and the Wildcats are 2-0-2 in those contests.
On Tuesday night it was Mike Korszun (Schenectady, N.Y. / Mohonassen) providing the heroics. The sophomore striker took advantage of a defensive miscue to score the game-winning goal at the 93:39 mark. A Maverick defender tried to play a ball back to his goalie for the clear, however the pass was too soft and Korszun was able to intercept it. Korszun nudged the ball past the sliding keeper, playing it to the lower left side of the goal before smartly gathering himself and taking his time on the wide-open shot.
Of course, both teams played exceptional defensive matches to bring the game to overtime.
One of the biggest plays for the Wildcats came early in the game, as a great try for the Mavericks was foiled. The ball was thrown into the middle around the center of the attacking third for Medaille, but was chipped up into the air as a couple Wildcat defenders converged on it. When the ball came back down Bryan Sibble found himself all alone with no one but keeper Jesse Yanarella (Wappingers Falls, N.Y. / Ketchum) in his way. However the sophomore goalie had anticipated the play, sprinting out to meet Sibble and making a sliding save to knock Sibble's shot away. It would be one of the best tries the Mavericks received until late in the second half.
SUNY Poly was aided as well by several excellent defensive maneuvers by the likes of Brett Gruener (Ballston Spa, N.Y. / Ballston Spa) and Bryan Kilpatrick (Endicott, N.Y. / Union-Endicott), whose tag-team late in the second half helped induce a Maverick striker to kick the ball out of bounds, thwarting what had looked like a promising Medaille offensive and giving the Wildcats a goal-kick.
In the second half each team managed only a handful of decent tries. Maverick midfielder Austin Tom was able to square up a hard kick from just outside the eighteen but a Wildcat deflection pushed the shot just wide. Later on in the 72nd minute Vincent Seruhungu (Syracuse, N.Y. / Fowler) executed a nice cross that was headed by Matt Arcidiacono (Oneonta, N.Y. / Oneonta), but the shot went right to the Maverick keeper.
If anything, the Mavericks will be kicking themselves about a chance in the 85th minute. Junior Geegba created an advantage down the right side and let fly a near-perfect cross. Bryan Sibble received it and had the net to himself after Yanarella dove for the cross. Fortunately for the Wildcats, Sibble's attempt to deflect the ball into the net was off, sailing off to the right of the goal.
From there the Wildcats would salt away the rest of regulation, setting up Korszun's game-winner in overtime.
Tuesday's game was only the second time the Mavericks have been shut out all season.
The Wildcats will return to NEAC action this Saturday with a home game as part of Wildcat Weekend. They take on Wells College at 2:00 pm.
