MARCY, N.Y. - The SUNY Poly men's soccer team earned a thrilling 3-1 win over the Nazareth Golden Flyers in their home opener on Wednesday night. SUNY Poly went down 1-0 late in the first half but bounced right back in the second half with three goals in a seven-minute span. The Wildcats are now 1-1 overall this season. The loss for Nazareth was their first this season. They are now 2-1.

THE GOALS:

Nazareth scored the first goal of the game with 10 minutes to play in the first half. A free kick from 30 yards started the opportunity for Nazareth. The free ball out was kicked in and headed in the box directly to the foot of Cuneyt Vardar who found the back of the net. Jay Granto was credited with the assist.

The Wildcats had an incredible seven-minute run, scoring all three of their goals from the 51st minute to the 58th minute. The first goal started with a great defensive play by Aboubacar Camara who took a ball right off of the foot of a Nazareth player. The great challenge created an open field opportunity for Camara who hit a dribbler under the outstretched arms of the keeper to tie the game at one. The goal was his first of the season.  

The second Wildcat goal was scored in the 56th minute when a foul in the box gave the Wildcats a penalty kick opportunity. Wakeley Banker took the PK for the Wildcats drilling a hard grounder to the bottom left corner for his first goal of the season.

The final goal of the game was scored in the 58th minute after a knocked-away corner was collected and served in by the Wildcats. After Nazareth cleared the corner, Justin Andriola played a ball into Aboubacar Camara, who with his back to the goal made a great touch pass out to Edgar Gomez on the left side of the goal. Gomez saw the opportunity and made the most of it, netting the open look with a hard shot to the bottom left of the goal to make it a two-goal game for the Wildcats.

NOTABLE STATS:

• James D'Alessio earned the win in goal for the Wildcats. He made five saves on six shots faced.
• Aboubacar Camara had his first three points of the season on a goal and an assist.
• Wakeley Banker and Edgar Gomez both netted their first goals of the season in the win.
• Logan Menna did not make a save in goal for Nazareth. He was credited with the loss in goal.
• Cuneyt Vardar scored the only goal of the game for Nazareth. It was his sixth of the season.
• The assist by Jay Granto was the first of his career.

UP NEXT:

The Wildcats will host local rival Utica University on Saturday afternoon. The Wildcats and the Pioneers are scheduled to kick off at 1:00 PM at SUNY Poly's Wildcat Field. The last time the two teams met, the Wildcats earned a 1-0 win on the road. That game was on September 22nd of last year.

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SUNY Poly is New York's globally recognized, high-tech educational ecosystem. SUNY Poly offers undergraduate and graduate degrees in the emerging disciplines of nanoscience and nanoengineering, as well as cutting-edge nanobioscience programs at its Albany campus, and undergraduate and graduate degrees in technology, including engineering, cybersecurity, computer science, and the engineering technologies; professional studies, including business, communication, and nursing; and arts and sciences, including natural sciences, game design, mathematics, humanities, and social sciences at its Utica campus; thriving athletic, recreational, and cultural programs, events, and activities complement the campus experience. As the world's most advanced, university-driven research enterprise, SUNY Poly boasts billions of dollars in high-tech investments and hundreds of corporate partners since its inception. For information visit www.sunypoly.edu.