Each September, the City of Oneonta kicks off the fall soccer season by hosting the annual College Mayor's Cup Soccer Tournament. This is the 36th anniversary of the Division I men's Tournament, which is the longest running Division I men's tournament in the nation. This event includes the 16th annual Division III women's Tournament as well as year five of the Division III men's event.

None of the local college teams managed to take one of the titles last year. Columbia won the Div. I men's bracket with a win and a tie. The Div. III men's tournament was won by Montclair State while Allegheny won the women's Div. III event.

The first Mayor's Cup Tournament was held in September of 1976 as a way to integrate the colleges and community by sponsoring an event to celebrate the opening of both colleges and to welcome our new and returning students. The games took place at Damaschke Field in Neahwa Park. Four thousand fans turned out to see Hartwick defeat Southern Illinois at Edwardsville 2-1 to win the inaugural tournament. Oneonta State took 3rd place by defeating Bucknell 2-1.

Ever since this initial event in 1976, powerhouse soccer teams from around the country come to Oneonta to compete for the Mayor's Cup. This year is no exception. The Men's Division I Tournament will feature Hartwick College, Fairfield University from the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference, Cornell University from the Ivy League, and Robert Morris University from the Northeast Athletic Conference.

Second-year head coach John Scott leads a Hartwick College team looking to return to the Mid-American Conference playoffs for the fourth time in five years in 2011. Scott will have a blend of 13 returning veterans and nine talented newcomers on the roster this season. Junior midfielder Simon Greatwich will be key to the Hawks' success this season after competing internationally for his home nation of the Philippines in the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Challenge Cup this past spring.

The Fairfield Stags, led by Hartwick College Hall of Famer Carl Rees, finished the 2010 season 6-7-5 overall record with a 5-4 showing in the MAAC. Cornell will look to rebound from a 4-8-5 mark last season. The Big Red also went winless (0-5-2) in the Ivy League. Robert Morris secured a 9-7-2 record in 2010. The Colonials just missed out on the NEC playoffs with a 5-3-2 mark.

The tournament kicks off on Friday afternoon at 1:00 p.m. on the campus of Oneonta State with men's Division III action. There will be a second game on the Oneonta campus at 4:00 p.m. This year's tournament field includes Babson College, Ithaca College and Rensselaer in addition to host Oneonta. The Div. III men's tournament will conclude on Saturday with games at one and 4 p.m. also on Red Dragon Soccer Field on the campus of SUNY Oneonta.

The Oneonta men return all 11 starters from a team that captured the SUNYAC regular season title. Coach Iain Byrne is now in his ninth year as the head coach of the Red Dragons and is extremely optimistic that his squad will challenge for an NCAA tournament berth in 2011. The Red Dragons will look to a large group of seniors that includes All-SUNYAC and All-Region performer Jonathan Kowalski (Glens Falls/Glens Falls) (Glens Falls/Glens Falls) to lead the program in 2011. Oneonta won the 2009 Div. III Mayor's Cup championship.

Ithaca, who won the first Div. III men's Mayor's Cup Tournament in 2007, will be looking to rebound from a disappointing 4-8-4 season in 2010. Babson finished 16-4-2 and was an NCAA tournament participant last fall. Rensselaer played in the championship game of the Liberty League tournament and finished 9-5-5 overall in 2010.

The Division III Women's Tournament will include Hartwick College, Oneonta State, The College of New Jersey and William Paterson University.

The Oneonta State women return a large and talented group to the pitch in 2011. Fifth year coach and Stamford native, Liz McGrail, guided her 2010 squad to the SUNYAC title and the program's 12th straight NCAA tournament where the Red Dragons advanced to the round of 16. Leading this year's team will be SUNYAC Rookie of the Year, Karly DeSimone (Clifton Park/Shenendehowa) (Clifton Park/Shenendehowa) and her sister, senior Dana along with classmate Alanna Fisher (Suffern/Suffern) (Suffern/Suffern) and 2009 conference Rookie of the Year, Kayla Brantmeyer (Center Moriches/Center Moriches) (Center Moriches/Center Moriches).

The Oneonta women lead with six Mayor's Cup tournament titles with its last coming in 2007.

The Hartwick women return a seasoned group of eighteen players and eight starters from last season's squad. Fifth-year head coach Matt Verni brings back his entire starting back line and 10 of his top 12 point producers as the Hawks look to qualify for the Empire 8 Conference playoffs for the first time since 2002. Backs Julie Kessler and Carly Pine each return to lead 'Wick. Kessler paced the team in scoring last season, while Pine led the Hawks in assists and was named to the Empire 8 Second Team.

The College of New Jersey, who won the Mayor's Cup in 2009, is coming off an 18-3-1 season and a trip to the final 16 in the NCAA tournament. They have won three Mayor's Cup championships.

William Paterson finished 11-5-5 overall in 2010 and earned an at-large berth to the NCAA tournament where Stevens Institute eliminated them in the first round. The Pioneers were one of three schools from the NJAC, including TCNJ, to qualify for last year's NCAA tournament.

Admission to all 12 games is free thanks to corporate sponsorship from local businesses and the City of Oneonta.

This weekend will be exciting for all. At halftime of the college games throughout the weekend, the Oneonta Recreation Youth Teams will be playing.

Oneonta State will host a brunch on Saturday morning for all twelve teams and the Tournament sponsors.

2011 game schedule:

Games on Oneonta State Red Dragon Field
Friday, Sept. 9
Babson vs. RPI, 1:00 PM
Oneonta Men vs. Ithaca, 4:00 PM

Saturday, Sept. 10
Ithaca vs. RPI, 1:00 PM
Oneonta Men vs. Babson, 4:00 PM

Sunday, Sept. 11
Oneonta vs. William Paterson, 12:00 PM
Hartwick vs. TCNJ, 2:30 PM

Games on Hartwick College Elmore Field
Friday, Sept 9
Hartwick Men vs. Fairfield, 5:00 PM
Cornell vs. Robert Morris, 7:30 PM

Saturday, Sept. 10
Oneonta vs. TCNJ, 1:00 PM
Hartwick vs. William Paterson, 3:30 PM

Sunday, Sept. 11
Fairfield vs. Robert Morris, 12:00 PM
Hartwick Men vs. Cornell, 3:00 PM

Mayor's Cup Schedule by Tournament

Men's Div. I at Hartwick College
Friday, Sept 9
Hartwick Men vs. Fairfield, 5:00 PM
Cornell vs. Robert Morris, 7:30 PM

Sunday, Sept. 11
Fairfield vs. Robert Morris, 12:00 PM
Hartwick Men vs. Cornell, 3:00 PM

Men's Div. III at Oneonta State College
Friday, Sept. 9
Babson vs. Rensselaer, 1:00 PM
Oneonta Men vs. Ithaca, 4:00 PM

Saturday, Sept. 10
Ithaca vs. RPI, 1:00 PM
Oneonta Men vs. Babson, 4:00 PM

Women's Div. III
Saturday, Sept. 10 at Hartwick College
Oneonta vs. TCNJ, 1:00 PM
Hartwick vs. William Paterson, 3:30 PM

Sunday, Sept. 11 at Oneonta State College
Oneonta vs. William Paterson, 12:00 PM
Hartwick vs. TCNJ, 2:30 PM