Potsdam, NY – After several close calls late in the contest, a hard groundball by Jason Tartick scooted past goaltender Scott Stuart (Ottawa, ONT) in overtime as Geneseo outlasted the Clarkson University Men’s Soccer team, 1-0, Friday afternoon at Clarkson Field.
The Golden Knights dropped to 3-2 overall and will face the University of Rochester on Sunday afternoon. Geneseo moved to 2-1-1.
The game was scoreless after the first half, and neither team had too many quality chances on goal that made it appear as if goal was imminent. The second half was a different story, as both teams threatened to break the scoreless tie. A nifty ricochet caused by junior striker Mark Secko (Shoreham, NY) gave Clarkson a virtual corner kick opportunity as Secko out maneuvered Geneseo keeper Mike Madarasz, but the Blue Knights defense got back in time to thwart any Clarkson chances on the open net.
Geneseo, too, had many chances, thanks to numerous corner kick chances. Their best chance to score, however, came late with a counter attack after a Clarkson scoring opportunity. After snatching a direct kick out of the air with less than 30 seconds to go, Madarasz sent a booming kick over center half that bounded beyond the defense and Ian Mort was able to take a header at the net with 10 seconds to go, but Clarkson keeper Scott Stuart was able to deflect the ball out. Tartick then had a chance on goal and ripped a shot to the near side post, but again Stuart was up to task, deflecting the ball out of bounds for a harmless corner chance that would never happen thanks to time expiring.
In overtime, the Blue Knights were able to pick up their second win thanks to Tartick being in the right place at the right time. He gathered the ball near the top of the penalty box and turned with a hard shot that just barely deflected off a Knight defender and rolled in for the game’s only goal, and the only shot in overtime.
Geneseo finished with a 16-11 edge in shots and a 10-0 lead in corner kicks thanks to numerous deflections near the end line. Stuart made seven saves for Clarkson while Madarasz made three stops for the Blue Knights.
