Senior Captain Noah Gittleman (Ron Szot photo)
The Fredonia men's soccer team wrapped up its 2018 season with a 1-0 victory over Plattsburgh State on Saturday. Matt Belardi (Niagara Falls, N.Y./Niagara Wheatfield) would score the game's only goal. Ty Bentham (Columbus, Ind./Columbus North) had 10 saves in earning the shutout.
The start of the game was delayed about two hours due to lightning and rain.
When the teams finally got on the pitch, neither team could muster a score in the first half. Plattsburgh managed two first-half shots on goal, and Fredonia just one. Plattsburgh held a 5-4 edge in shots, and both teams had three corner kicks.
Belardi would break through in sloppy conditions and score in the 74th minute on an assist by Tristan Desnerck (Lakewood, N.Y. / Southwestern).
Plattsburgh (3-5-1 SUNYAC / 6-8-3 overall) out shot the Devils 18-5, and had a 10-2 advantage of shots on goal.
The Devils finish the season at 5-9-2 overall and 2-6-1 in the SUNYAC.
"Great effort today under extreme conditions," said head coach P.J. Gondek. "It seemed like we had nothing to play for today, but we had everything to play for. We played for the future. We are a very young team and this will help our consistency next season."
It was also the final game for the Devils' lone senior, Noah Gittleman (Commack/Commack). Gittleman was a four-year player for the Blue and White. "I can't say enough," said Gondek "about our senior captain Noah Gittleman and what he has done for our program. We will miss him."
