Ryan Masi played a pivotal role in the attack, recording assists on both Alfred State goals, while
Logan Bickel and
Josh Lewandusky each found the back of the net. Lewandusky was a constant threat throughout the match, leading the Pioneers with five shots. Alfred State weathered every challenge thrown its way and received a clutch performance in goal from
Lukas Bandurski, who finished with six saves.
The Pioneers came out aggressively from the opening whistle and were rewarded late in the first half. After creating several dangerous scoring opportunities, Alfred State broke through in the 38th minute when Bickel finished a setup from Masi to give the Pioneers a 1-0 lead.
Just minutes later, Alfred State struck again. Lewandusky found the back of the net in the 44th minute, with Masi collecting his second assist of the night, sending the Pioneers into halftime with a commanding 2-0 advantage.
Oswego State increased the pressure in the second half and cut the deficit to 2-1 in the 52nd minute. The Lakers appeared poised to equalize moments later after earning a penalty kick, but Bandurski delivered one of the biggest plays of the match with a critical save to preserve Alfred State's lead.
From that point on, the Pioneer defense dug in and refused to break. Bandurski continued to come up with timely stops while the back line battled through wave after wave of pressure, helping Alfred State protect its one-goal advantage for nearly 40 minutes and secure the victory.
The win showcased the resilience, determination, and defensive grit of the Pioneers as they continue their push toward postseason play.
Following the win, Head Coach
Vince Correa praised his team's ability to find a result despite not playing their best soccer for a full 90 minutes.
"I'll tell you what, very happy that we found a way to win. We did not play as well as I was hoping in the second half offensively, but defensively, we buckled down, kept the ball out of our net, and ultimately we got the win. So I'm happy."
Correa emphasized the importance of the victory as the program continues to build confidence.
"I'll tell you, when you're in a slump, as we've been in that, the first win is everything, and then you can build off it. The guys start getting more confident, they start understanding that they can win and how to do it, and what it takes, and the effort it takes to go into a game and get a win. So very proud of them, very happy."
Looking ahead, Correa believes the formula remains simple for his group.
"Yeah, well, just continue to do what we've been doing all year. I mean this team is, they work really hard. They earn everything they get; we take no shortcuts."
The Pioneers will be back in action this weekend October 24
th at 1pm taking on Oneonta at Oneonta NY.
