Francesco Cordillo (Tonawanda, N.Y.) and Keelon Joseph (Malabar, Arima, Trinidad) each scored a goal in the first half lifting the SUNY Canton men’s soccer team to a 2-1 win over 5th-ranked Paul Smith’s College.
The Roos (6-5-1) handed the Bobcats, who are ranked fifth in the latest USCAA Coaches Poll, their first loss of the season.
“We didn’t play as well as I thought we could have tonight,” said head coach Mark Howlett. “But we found a way to win which is encouraging against a top 10 opponent.”
The Roos, ranked 20th in the USCAA, wiped out a 1-0 deficit with goals in the 23rd and 27th minutes. Cardillo notched the first score for the Roos tying the game with his fourth tally of the year as Kevaughn John (Arima, Trinidad and Tobago) assisted on the goal. Cardillo then set up Joseph for the freshman’s first collegiate goal.
The action went back and forth for the remainder of the game. SUNY Canton manufactured several terrific runs late in the contest, but was held at bay by Paul Smith’s keeper Ryan Little, who finished with four saves before leaving with an injury with two minutes left in regulation.
Sankung Sillah (Bronx, N.Y.) picked up the win for the Roos making one save in goal.
SUNY Canton will host the University of Maine at Presque Isle in two games this weekend. The Roos and the Owls square off on Friday at 7 p.m. and again on Saturday at 3 p.m.