With five minutes left in last night’s men’s soccer game between Oneonta State and Syracuse, SU defender Ezra Prendergast unexpectedly played a pass back to goalie Rob Cavicchia. The ball slipped out of bounds for an Oneonta State corner kick. Cavicchia extended his wingspan in frustration at his senior teammate. The Red Dragons blasted the ensuing shot off the post before SU cleared the ball.

That miscue wasn’t the worst of the action for the Orange, who dropped a 2-0 decision at Syracuse Soccer Stadium on Wednesday, even without the possible goal late in the match.

‘It was lack of concentration,’ SU head coach Dean Foti said. ‘We didn’t come ready to play. It’s baffling.’

Oneonta State (6-6-1) controlled the game from the outset. The Orange (5-6-2, 1-5-1) produced the first two quality scoring chances, five and 10 minutes into the first half, but Oneonta State capitalized at the 30 minute mark. A Red Dragon player whiffed at a loose ball at the top of the box. Somehow, Matt Watts had enough time to help his teammate and uncork a shot to the lower left corner past a diving Cavicchia.

The Orange spent the remainder of the half controlling the action but all opportunities were thwarted. Justin Van Houten beat Oneonta State goalkeeper Timothy Melia minutes later, but the ball bounced past the wrong side of the post. Brad Peetoom was visibly upset with himself on a header that floated over the crossbar.

‘You can’t spot a team a goal,’ Foti said. ‘You end up chasing the game. If we play close to playing what we’re capable of, we’re not chasing the game. But we didn’t so we get what we deserve.’

It didn’t take long for Oneonta State to add an insurance goal to start the second half when a Red Dragon cross caught Cavicchia with his momentum backward. The SU freshman managed to get a hand on it but Adam Gereke took the rebound and knocked it off Prendergast’s foot for a 2-0 cushion.

Foti took responsibility after the match for the team’s poor effort. He subbed early and often in the game. Several SU players were called off the bench without a chance to warm up in the cold, wet conditions. Foti even went back to his starters a few minutes after Oneonta State scored its second goal, but the Orange continued its lackluster play.

Midfielder Richard Asante subbed out in the first half and did not return. Foti said Asante has to get his knee checked in the next few days. Asante was walking on the sidelines throughout the rest of the game.

Freshman Jim Linus, who normally gets playing time, did not play for an internal team problem, Foti said. The loss prevented an SU winning streak coming off an upset win Sunday against South Florida.

‘We didn’t come out strong,’ midfielder James Goodwin said. ‘We just have to forget about this.’

‘We should be able to play a good game and show up the next game and play another good game,’ Foti said. ‘We haven’t proved we can do that. Every time we have a chance to prove that, we fail the test. Tonight was an example.’

Published on October 12, 2005 at 12:00 pm