Junior Jake Sutherland (Syracuse/West Genesee)'s third goal of the season at the 60-minute mark of today's match lifted the SUNY Oneonta men's soccer team to a 1-0 against Rensselaer in a match between two unbeaten and nationally ranked squads.  Oneonta, who is ranked No. 3 in this week's NSCAA Coaches' poll, is now 6-0-1 while No. 14 Rensselaer falls to 6-1-1.  Today's match was also between the top two teams in the East Region in this week's poll with Oneonta in the top spot.
 
"It was a even game first half," said 12^th-year coach Iain Byrne.  "Rensselaer showed why they are the No. 2 team in the region. "We really dominated the second half with a strong wind behind us. Their goalkeeper made some incredible saves to deny us further goals, but it was a big win to keep our great start going."
 
In the second half, Oneonta completely carried the play to the tune of a 13-1 lopsided shot advantage.  Rensselaer keeper, Rob Dewald, made eight of his 10 saves in the second half to keep his Engineers in the game.
 
Prior to Sutherland's goal, Oneonta had an opportunity off a corner kick, which Dewald saved off a header by freshman Cory Santangelo (Sayville/Sayville).
 
Oneonta finally broke through four minutes later on a corner kick, which Santangelo passed off to Sutherland, who put a shot into the lower 90.
 
The Red Dragons had another flurry, but couldn't manage to get another goal to create some breathing room.
 
Senior Vincent Pellegrino (Baldwin/Baldwin) remained unbeaten in goal for Oneonta, picking up his fifth win of the season.  Pellegrino made three saves in recording his fifth shutout of the year.  Pellegrino has only one blemish on his record for the year, as he currently carries a 0.16 goals against through 560 minutes of play.
 
As a team, Oneonta has six shutouts and is outscoring its opponents 18-1 through the first seven games of 2014.
 
Oneonta will open up its SUNYAC schedule this Friday at home versus Oswego beginning at 4pm.