September 4, 2004

GENEVA, N.Y.—Geneseo State senior David Aguado (Kings Park/Kings Park, N.Y.) scored the game’s lone goal in the 30th minute to spoil the Hobart College soccer team’s season opener this afternoon, 1-0, on Cozzens Field.

The Statesmen and Blue Knights spent the opening 10 minutes trying to find a rhythm, but neither team was able to generate any really dangerous opportunities. Geneseo (2-0-0) had the first good scoring chance of the contest when senior David Fink (North Tonawanda/North Tonawanda, N.Y.) got in behind the defense and headed the ball past Hobart goalie Ben Tambarella (St. Peter’s Prep/Hoboken, N.J.), but senior defender Christian Buestad (Northfield Mt. Hermon/Orinda, Calif.) cleared the ball off the line to keep the game scoreless in the 11th minute.

Just over 10 minutes later Hobart (0-1-0) senior Ricky Klotz (Homer/Cortland, N.Y.) almost fired home a free kick from 30 yards out, but Geneseo keeper Chris Stock (Penfield/Penfield, N.Y.) was able to cover it.

It was Aguado though who capitalized first five minutes later as first-year Matt Robinson (Irondequoit/Rochester, N.Y.) sent a nifty pass to Aguado, who snuck in behind the Hobart backline and slotted it past Tambarella for what proved to be the game winner.

Hobart continued to pressure the Geneseo defense in the second session, but was unable to find an opening. Klotz nearly tied the game in the 59th minute with a well struck shot, but watched as it hit the left post and bounce across the face of the goal.

The Blue Knights outshot the Statesmen 12-11 and held a slight 5-4 advantage in corner kicks. Tambarella grabbed one save for Hobart in 90 minutes of action, while Stock pulled in four stops.

The Statesmen return to action again tomorrow, hosting Kings Point at 1 p.m., on Cozzens Field.