CORTLAND, NY –
Leah Rehm (East Syracuse/East Syracuse-Minoa) assisted a pair of goals early in the second half, as the Cortland women's soccer team overcame a halftime deficit for a 2-1 home victory over Buffalo State in State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) action on Wednesday evening on Holloway Field.
The Red Dragons improved to 5-2-1 (2-0-0 SUNYAC) with the win, while Buffalo State dropped to 2-8-0 (0-1-0 SUNYAC) with the defeat.
Rehm's two assists give her three helpers on the season to tie for the team lead.
Cassia Schuyler (Cincinnatus) and
Tyla Vuotto (Lynbrook) had a goal apiece for Cortland, with Vuotto scoring for the third consecutive game.
Ari Smith scored the lone goal for Buffalo State, off of an assist from Reagan Michel. Addy Williams made seven saves in goal in a losing effort for the Bengals.
Cortland had an early chance to take the lead in the fourth minute off a corner kick, but
Gianna Cirilla (Pattersonville/Schalmont) had an initial shot blocked by a defender and then a follow-up attempt blocked by a different Buffalo State defender as the Bengals' last line of defense in front of goal.
The Red Dragons continued to push forward for an opener and dominated possession for the entire first half, including posting a 9-3 advantage in shot attempts in the half.
Against the run of play, the Bengals turned a counterattack into a goal in the final three minutes to grab the lead. Michel received a pass in the midfield and slipped a pass to Smith just outside of the 18-yard area. Smith took a few dribbled and sent a low shot into the bottom left corner of the net for the goal.
Just under two minutes into the second half, Cirilla was denied in front of goal by a strong save from Williams, but the Red Dragons continued to press forward and were rewarded with the equalizer only minutes later.
Rehm dribbled down the right sideline towards the endline and floated a cross towards the left post at the edge of the six-yard box, where Schuyler was in a perfect position to redirect a header into the bottom left corner for the tying goal in the 49th minute.
Cortland netted the winning goal only three minutes later. Rehm collected a pass in the midfield and alertly whipped a pass behind the Buffalo State back line to Vuotto, who had made a perfectly-time run to stay onside. Vuotto dribbled in alone towards goal, and slotted a low shot past the onrushing Williams for the tally.
After going ahead, the Cortland defense locked down Buffalo State and did not allow a shot attempt for the Bengals over the final 40 minutes of the contest.
Cortland was unable to add an insurance goal late after Williams made a pair of saves in the final quarter-hour, but the Red Dragons commanded possession and dictated play, finishing the game with a 20-5 advantage in shot attempts and a 13-4 edge in corner kicks.
