Canton, NY – Three different players found the back of the net led by a goal and assist from Jose Menendez (Maracay, Venezeula) as the SUNY Canton men's soccer team defeated visiting Alfred State College 3-0 on Friday evening.

Alfred State had the first golden scoring opportunity of the game 14 minutes in off a defensive third turnover by the Roos. Brandon Holley picked off a pass and fired a shot near post from point blank range but Austin Lamay (Malone, NY) made a strong save to keep the game scoreless.

The Roos had their first good scoring threat three minutes later on an Edward Malinoski, Jr. (Evans Mills, NY) shot that was turned aside by Kenneth Allport. Moments later Tyler Cook (Antwerp, NY) took a free kick from just inside midfield that made its way all the way through the box to Jules Ngadula (Manlius, NY) who ran onto it at the far post and headed it just wide of the right post.

With 18 minutes left in the half Hunter Mowery (Elizabethtown, NY) played a straight lob up the middle to Tyler Gallagher (Potsdam, NY) who one-timed it high.

Two minutes later Menendez fed Ngadula who was stymied by Allport. The Roos continued to have the majority of the great scoring chances. With 15 minutes left in the opening half Gallagher was fed in alone 1 v. 1 with the keeper but Allport made a kick save on a shot towards the left post.

With just less than eight minutes to play Mouhamadou Cisse (Sacre Coeur, Dakar, Senegal) made a great individual play to gain possession in the offensive third. The ball eventually found Menendez on the left side as he used some impressive skill moves to beat his defender. The defender made a great recovery play and a strong tackle in the box that put a stop to the tremendous scoring opportunity.

The Roos held a 6-4 shots on goal advantage in the opening half as the teams played to a scoreless tie at intermission.

SUNY Canton continued to have some excellent scoring opportunities in the second half. Gallagher sent in a cross from the right side as Menendez headed it on to Andrew Barber (Lansing, NY) whose header attempt was saved. Minutes later with 25 to play in regulation Cook was the recipient of a ball played across the box from right to left. He ripped a shot that was destined to break the tie but Pioneer defender Jacob Palumbo made a team save with his foot to keep the game scoreless.

The Roos finally broke the scoreless tie with 16:34 remaining. Following a corner kick Gallagher gained possession on the far sideline. He played a beautiful cross to a sprinting Menendez who put home the running header into the left side of goal.

The hosts added an insurance marker with 9:16 remaining. Cook started the set piece taking the corner from the right side. He found the head of Mowery running onto it as is header hit off the underside of the cross bar and went in for his second of the season.

SUNY Canton added a third tally just less than five minutes later when Malinoski netted his first collegiate goal. Menendez drilled a low liner off the direct kick that was initially saved by Allport, but Malinoski outhustled the keeper to the rebound and buried it to make it 3-0.

Lamay stopped five shots in his first shutout of the season, while Allport made 11 stops for the Pioneers. The men's soccer team returns to the pitch on Sunday when it visits Johnson State College at 2 p.m.