Staff Report

Juniors Mary Velan and Calli Jo Sheldon, both former area high school standouts, scored for third-ranked Oneonta State in its 2-1 overtime women’s soccer victory at top-ranked Messiah College (Pa.) on Saturday.

Stamford graduate Velan scored 1 minute, 8 seconds into overtime, lofting an 18-yard shot over Messiah goalie Brindley Beckwith’s head and inside the far post to snap a 1-all tie.

"We were passing the ball around in the final third and she dribbled a bit," O-State coach Tracey Ranieri said of Velan’s team-leading 17th goal of the season. "(Velan) saw (the goalie) was off her line, and that she was willing to take that shot was what was so great about it."

Messiah (12-1) had outscored its opposition, 49-0, before Saturday.

"It was definitely the most exciting game of the year," Ranieri said. "We played great. It was an evenly matched game as I hoped it would be when you have No. 1 playing No. 3. We just came out on fire."

Unatego graduate Calli Jo Sheldon opened the scoring in the 15th minute. She curled a corner kick inside the far post from the left side. Sheldon, who has a program-record 13 assists this season, scored her first goal on the play.

"The two local kids who scored the goals against the best team in the country both are just the heart and soul of the team," said Ranieri, whose team has won 17 straight since opening the season with a 1-0 loss to Johns Hopkins during a tournament at Virginia Beach.

Messiah tied the score at 1 with six minutes left in regulation off a restart. Ranieri said goalie Jeannine Marra and a defense that has four new starters this season played well, especially in the second half, when Messiah started to pressure the Red Dragons.

"It’s one of the very few times this season they’ve been tested like this, and they grew exponentially," Ranieri said of her defenders.[an error occurred while processing this directive]

Ranieri said one of Marra’s best saves came when she smothered a shot after a Messiah player penetrated the box.

In the latest National Soccer Coaches Association Division III poll, O-State was ranked behind Messiah and Trinity of Texas (11-0-1).

The regular-season SUNY Athletic Conference champion Red Dragons, who won the NCAA Division III Championship in 2003, play at Hamilton at 11 a.m. this Saturday.