MARCY, N.Y. – SUNYIT out shot Wells College 22 to 5 on Saturday, but the Express made the most of their chances in defeating the Wildcats 1-0. Express sophomore Trevor Fahey scored the winning goal in the 75th minute, as Wells improved to 4-3-0 in conference.
It was a defensive battle in the first half, as neither team was able to get the kind of chances they wanted. SUNYIT's best chance came late in the half when freshman Bazo Coulibaly (Bronx, N.Y. / Kennedy) gathered a loose ball in front of the penalty box and fired a shot just wide of the left goal post.
Although the Wildcats held a 9-2 shot advantage in the first forty-five, neither team really threatened to break the 0-0 stalemate.
In the second half things began to heat up. Wells goalie C.J. Bayly made a terrific save in the 66th minute, as SUNYIT leading scorer Diego Montaleza (New York, N.Y. / MLK) squared one from just outside the penalty box. Bayly, however, dove to his right and was able to deflect the ball out of bounds.
To be sure, SUNYIT was not without some great offensive play in the second half. Players like Luke Bogar (New Hartford, N.Y. / New Hartford) kept giving the Wildcats chances, such as when the local freshman utilized some excellent footwork to get by his defender on the right side and pop a cross into a sea of Wildcats. As happened all game, though, SUNYIT just wasn't able to convert.
With the Wildcats struggling to take advantage of chances, Wells seemed to sense that perhaps lady luck was on their side. In the 76th minute their hopes were confirmed when a harmless-looking cross by Fahey took a bad hop off a SUNYIT defender and ricocheted into the goal. Credit Fahey for battling into position down the left side, but to all in the stands the ball appeared like it would be cleared easily. Moments later the ball was fluttering just inches inside the left goal post as a helpless SUNYIT keeper Malick Faye (Bronx, N.Y. / MLK) looked on in horror.
SUNYIT will have to rebound on the road, as they begin a three-game away stretch on October 8th SUNY-New Paltz. Game time is set for 4:00 pm.