ONEONTA, N.Y. – The University of Scranton men’s soccer team is no stranger to stiff competition, having played 10-time NCAA champion Messiah in the Elite Eight two seasons ago. Faced with a tough road test at fourth-ranked Oneonta State on Tuesday, the Royals couldn’t answer the challenge, falling 3-0 to the Red Dragons.

Oneonta State (16-0-2) scored twice late in the first half and added an insurance goal in the 77th minute. The Red Dragons finished the match with a 14-2 advantage in shots and 6-1 in corner kicks.

Scranton (9-6-2), which had shots by senior forward Kevin Kozic (Raritan, N.J./Immaculata) and freshman midfielder Gavin Coutts (Mendham, N.J./West Morris Mendham), actually slowed Oneonta State better than most opponents have this season. The Red Dragons had six shots on goal in the match, and have had less than that only six times this year.

Sophomore goalkeeper Eric Hintz (South Windsor, Conn./South Windsor) made three saves in the defeat.

The Royals look to rebound on Saturday, Nov. 1, when they host Elizabethtown on Senior Day in the final regular season game at 1 p.m. The Royals are in a four-way tie for the fourth and final playoff spot with Elizabethtown, Goucher and Moravian, with each team having one match remaining on Saturday.

--ROYALS--