GENEVA, N.Y.— Connor Koschineg's goal with 3:24 left in the second overtime lifted the Hobart College soccer team to a 3-2 win over Buffalo State in a non-conference contest at Cozzens Field this afternoon. With the win, the Statesmen are now 7-6-1 overall this season.
With darkness settling in, Koschineg ripped a shot from just outside the 18-yard box into the lower right corner of the cage, beating the diving goalie. It was Koschineg's first collegiate goal.
James Durkin was credited with the assist.
Except for a 10-minute stretch to open the second half, the Statesmen dominated this afternoon's contest finishing with a 23-10 edge in shots and a 10-2 advantage in corner kicks.
Sam Lescher led the way for Hobart, scoring twice in the first half.
Guillermo Castaneda Chang played all 106:36 minutes in goal, making five saves.
Buffalo State (11-4-1, 4-2-1) was led Jamal Belarj, who scored twice. Dylan Guarino started and played every minute in goal for the Bengals, registering 12 saves.
Lescher opened the scoring in the 11th minute off of a corner kick. He fired a shot from inside the six-yard box into the upper half of the cage. His first collegiate goal was assisted by
Frederick Madsen.
August Martini launched a shot into the attacking box. After it bounced around, Madsen headed the ball down to Lescher's right foot. One minute later, Madsen nearly scored a goal of his own, but his shot from 25-yards out just missed the crossbar. Lescher gave Hobart a two-goal lead in the 31st minute. He headed a shot past Guarino.
Matias Valenzuela Matic was credited with an assist on the goal.
The Bengals made some major halftime adjustments and attacked the offensive end of the field right from the opening whistle. Twenty-nine seconds in, Riley Quinn's shot was turned aside by Castaneda Chang. Off the ensuing corner kick, Belarj notched his third goal of the year. He slipped a shot from inside the 18-yard box past Castaneda Chang. Theo Pencic was credited with an assist on the goal. Twenty-nine seconds later, Belarj one-timed a shot from the penalty spot into the lower left corner of the cage. Anthony Roncone picked up an assist on the goal. In the 53rd minute, Roncone had a shot turned aside by Castaneda Chang.
Following the Buffalo State surge, Hobart settled into their game and swung momentum back in its favor.
Robbie Caron had Hobart's best chance of the second half in the 56th minute. He found himself behind the Bengals' defensive line, but his shot just missed the left goal post. In the 76th minute,
Nick Kriak had a shot punched over the crossbar by Guarino. In the 87th minute, August Artini nearly converted on a free kick from near midfield, but Guarino made the save.
Koschineg nearly won the game in the 97th minute. He collected a ball in the six-yard box, but his attempt was cleared off the line by a Buffalo State defender.
Hobart will be back in action on Saturday, Oct. 23, when it welcomes Vassar to Cozzens Field. The game is scheduled to begin at 3 p.m.
