The final regular season game for the Tompkins Cortland Community College men's soccer team brought a solid effort from the Panthers, but ended with a hard-fought 3-1 loss to a strong Onondaga Community College team. The Panthers with are now 1-8 overall and 1-3 in the Mid-State Athletic Conference. Onondaga improved to 12-2 overall and earned the MSAC championship with a perfect record of 4-0 in conference.
Goalkeeper Nate Stuart (Fulton/G. Ray Bodley H.S.) and the Tompkins Cortland defense kept the game close, limiting the scoring chances for the Lazers. The lone goal in the first half came on a penalty kick in the 22nd minute of play, and Onondaga took the 1-0 lead into the second half.
The lead quickly grew to 3-0 with a pair of scores in the first six minutes of the second half, but the anthers settled down and kept the Lazers off the board the rest of the way. With just under 18 minutes left in the game, the Panthers went on the attack with Caleb Marsh (Cortland/Cortland H.S.) taking possession of the ball deep in the defensive end. He moved the ball to Abdoul Diagourga (Brooklyn/Keystone National H.S.) at midfield, who quickly passed the ball to a streaking Terry Paw (Ithaca/Ithaca H.S.). Paw raced passed the defense for a breakaway opportunity and capitalized, putting the anthers on the board and making the score 3-1. Three minutes later the Panthers had an opportunity to tighten the game up even more, earning a free kick just outside the box. But the chance sailed over the cross bar, taking with it the last quality chance for the Panthers.
Stuart was spectacular at times, recording eight saves and several other good plays while controlling the box.
Looking ahead
The game scheduled for Wednesday against North Country Community College was cancelled, with the Panthers picking up a forfeit win. The team will find out about a possible NJCAA Region 3 postseason bid later this week.