Storm comes at bad time for Devils
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Men's soccer
FREDONIA, N.Y. -- A heavy thunderstorm wiped out Fredonia State's 2-0 lead over New Paltz in SUNYAC men's soccer Saturday afternoon at University Stadium.
Officials halted play at the first sign of lightning in the 69th minute, just 1:49 short of the game becoming official. A heavy thunderstorm moved through the area and play could not be resumed after a delay of 90 minutes. The game was declared a "no contest" and will have to be replayed from the start.
All game statistics were nullified.
The timing of the storm could not have been worse for the Blue Devils. They came into the game having been shut out in both their previous two conference games. Before the delay, they were having one of their best offensive games of the season.
Playing with the wind advantage in the first half, Fredonia State dominated the play statistically -- three shots on goal to none for the Hawks, eight corner kicks to one -- and on the scoreboard. Junior forward Peter Dagel (Rochester/Gates-Chili) assisted on both would-be goals, each time off a free kick.
On the first, Dagel played the free kick from the left flank and bent it around a wall of players. New Paltz goalkeeper Peter Carmel (Lake Ronkonkoma/Stony Brook) was unable to control the ball and it deflected to junior defender Stephen Ahern (Nottingham, U.K./Billborough), who tapped the ball into the net for what would have been his second goal of the season.
Sophomore defender Luke Spencer (Rochester/West Irondequoit) was the recipient of the second Dagel set-up, a free kick from just outside the six-yard box. Stationed in front of the net, Spencer drilled the pass into the net. Had the play stood, it would have been his first collegiate goal.