The wind gusts and rising tensions set the stage for an intense matchup between two SUNYAC powerhouses in men’s soccer on Saturday afternoon at T. Fred Holloway Field. The nationally ranked Cortland Red Dragons faced off against the Buffalo State Bengals in what became one of the most exciting games of the season on Cortland’s home turf, ending in a hard-fought 1-1 draw.
From the opening whistle, both teams came out firing. Cortland controlled possession early, generating a few promising attacks before Buffalo State found an opening midway through the first half. A miscue in front of the goal allowed Buffalo’s Diego Rivera to score against Cortland goalkeeper Jordan Ott around the 36-minute mark, putting the Bengals ahead 1-0. The Red Dragons, who hadn’t allowed a goal in nearly a month, suddenly found themselves trailing for the first time in weeks.
Cortland responded to Buffalo’s lead with intensity, nearly equalizing at the 17-minute mark on a curling free kick that forced a solid save from Buffalo State goalkeeper Carson Smith. As the first half drew to a close, forward Owen Brant created another strong opportunity, sending a precise pass into the box for a rolling shot that struck the net—only to be called back for offsides. Despite the relentless late-half pressure, the Red Dragons entered halftime down 1-0 but clearly gaining momentum.
The second half belonged to Cortland. The Red Dragons dominated possession, dictated the tempo, and continuously tested Buffalo State’s defense. At the 19:42 mark, their persistence finally paid off. Off a deep cross from Shay Daly outside the box, a perfectly timed header by Josh Carroll found the back of the net, sending the crowd into a roar of excitement. It was one of Cortland’s cleanest and most electric goals of the season, tying the game at 1-1.
With the score even, emotions heightened. The physicality intensified, and tempers flared with about 15 minutes remaining. After a contested corner kick, both teams exchanged words and shoves before play resumed. Rivera, Buffalo’s key scorer, later picked up a yellow card in the closing minutes, reflecting the rising tension on the field. He wasn’t the only one booked, though—Cortland’s Nolan Weik, Jordan Ott, Jake Hutter, and Josh Carroll each received yellow cards in the second half as the battle grew increasingly physical.
When the final whistle blew, the Red Dragons walked off with a 1-1 draw against Buffalo State, but they clearly owned the second half, outplaying the Bengals on both ends. Despite the tie, Cortland’s dominance in possession and overall performance served as a strong reminder of why they remain one of the top teams in the SUNYAC. The Red Dragons currently sit second behind the Bengals in the conference standings, with three wins and two draws. Their overall record stands at eight wins, one loss, and four ties.
Cortland will look to carry that energy into their next matchup at Fredonia on Wednesday, October 15th, as they continue their pursuit of first place in the conference. Cortland hopes to turn draws back into victories.