10/29/05
Hartwick men to visit O-State for key Atlantic Soccer Conference game
Local teams clash Saturday, winner will clinch playoff berth
COLLEGE MEN’S SOCCER
By P.J. Harmer
Staff Writer
ONEONTA — John Simone’s chances at beating Hartwick are dwindling.
Senior Simone, a four-year member of the Oneonta State men’s soccer team, said he wants to experience just one victory over the rival Hawks.
He’ll get what could be his last chance at 1:30 p.m. Saturday, when the Red Dragons (6-7-2) play host to Hartwick (9-3-1) in a key Atlantic Soccer Conference match at Red Dragon Field.
[an error occurred while processing this directive]"Everyone that comes to Oneonta State says they want to win once against Hartwick," said Simone, who is second in scoring for O-State with eight points on four goals. "Every year we get close. When you have a rival like this, you just want to win."
In Simone’s three years, Oneonta State is 0-2-1 and has been outscored, 3-1. The tie was 0-0 in 2003.
"Just sitting around each year, I’m like ’I want to win one game against them,’" Simone said. "Just once knowing we came out on top."
It’s possible the teams could meet again in the inaugural ASC Tournament, which starts Nov. 11. Four of six conference teams will advance; first-year ASC team Longwood is not eligible because it is still transitioning to Division I.
Hartwick (3-0 ASC) leads the conference and O-State (2-1-1) is second.
"It’s another important conference game," said Hartwick coach Ian McIntyre, an All-American for the Hawks in 1995 and O-State’s coach from 1999-2002. "It just so happens it’s our crosstown rival."
O-State would clinch a playoff spot with a victory Saturday. Hartwick has all but assured itself of a conference tournament spot, but the Hawks can move closer to earning the top seed and the accompanying home-field advantage by winning.
The ASC Tournament champion earns an automatic bid to the NCAA Division I Tournament.
Hartwick, which has won four straight, is ranked in four national polls, the highest being 13th in the National Soccer Coaches Association poll.
"Obviously we’re playing the class team of the conference," O-State coach Iain Byrne said. "All the rest of us are capable of beating one another. Hartwick has kind of assumed the role of Florida International."
FIU moved to Conference USA this season after winning four ASC titles in five years. The Golden Panthers are 6-4-2 overall this year and 2-1-2 in Conference USA.
No matter the records, Oneonta-Hartwick games always seem to be close. The Red Dragons were 5-9-2 last season entering the game at Elmore Field and gave Hartwick all it could handle in a 2-1 overtime loss.
"We need the stars to be aligned and we need to have a big performance," Byrne said. "Last year, we brought the performance, but the stars weren’t aligned — it was overcast."
Freshman John Paul Boyle leads Hartwick with 17 points on seven goals and three assists. Freshman Austin McCann has six goals and three assists and junior Tyler Hemming has contributed four goals and one assist.
"We’re just concentrating on ourselves," said Hartwick junior Craig Potter, who has four assists this season. "We feel if we play to our potential, we can win. It’s a good game to show the people of Oneonta how good we are."
Junior goalie Josh Wagenaar has played in 12 games this season, starting 10. An all-conference selection and regional All-American last season, Wagenaar has allowed nine goals this season and earned four shutouts.
Sophomore Keith Manscuk leads O-State with nine points on four goals and an assist. Freshman Matt Watts, senior Chris Spence and sophomore Billy Ohrin each have two assists for the Red Dragons, who have been outscored, 25-19.
"We have to be able to score," Byrne said. "In the games we’ve struggled, we can’t score goals. It’s been our Achilles’ heel the past couple of years.
"We know they can score goals," he continued. "That’s one area we need to be able to keep with them."
Sophomore goalie Tim Melia has a 3-5-2 record with two shutouts in 11 games this season.
"They are a very difficult team to play against," McIntyre said. "There won’t be many secrets between each team. Both sets of players know each other well. ... I’m sure it will be a lot of fun to watch."
O-STATE VS. HARTWICK
