SUNY Oneonta Athletics

Women’s Soccer (15-4-2) SUNYAC Champions

Nov. 5th vs. Cortland, W 2-0 (SUNYAC Tournament Semifinals)
The final stats are even, but the SUNY Oneonta women’s soccer team easily defeated its rival SUNY Cortland 2-0 last Friday in the first semifinal game played on All-College Field in the SUNYAC tournament.

Oneonta scored late in the first half and early in the second half today en route to the shutout. Junior goalkeeper Amy Lusby made five routine stops in the contest in picking up her seventh shutout of the season. Lusby lowered her goals against average to 0.71.

Oneonta’s first goal in the match was a matter of being in the right place at the right time. Freshman Kori Hamm hustled to keep a ball in play along the end line and sent an apparent harmless pass across that was misplayed by the Cortland keeper when she failed to pick up the ball. The ball continued across to in front of the goal where freshman Karly DeSimone had an excellent opportunity with one defender standing close to her. DeSimone finished the play with a rocket to the back of the goal.

Oneonta’s second goal came in the 59th minute by senior Nha Wright, who scored her seventh goal of the season. Wright collected a loose ball at the top of the box, moved to the right around a defender, and sent a low roller along the ground to the opposite corner of the goal.

Oneonta will be playing in its 11th championship game in the last 13 years. The Red Dragons are 7-1-2 in its previous 10 championship games. Its only loss came in its first championship game in 1998 against, oddly enough, its opponent last Saturday, Plattsburgh. Nineteen ninety-eight is the only time Plattsburgh has played in, and won, the SUNYAC championship game. Oneonta is seeking its 12th straight NCAA appearance with a win tomorrow.

Nov. 6th vs. Plattsburgh, W 2-1 (SUNYAC Tournament Finals)
Oneonta State came in to the SUNYAC Championships as the number one seed and walked off the field as the 2010 Women’s soccer SUNYAC Champions defeating Plattsburgh 2-1 in a fiercely contested final.

With the title, comes the conference’s automatic berth into the NCAA tournament for Oneonta. For the Red Dragons, they will be making their 12th consecutive appearance in the national tournament. Oneonta will know Monday afternoon when and where they will be playing when the NCAA announces the 2010 tournament field.

For Plattsburgh, it was their second trip to the championship game ever, its first coming back in 1998. That year they defeated Oneonta 1-0 in Plattsburgh to claim its only championship. The Cardinals are hopeful that they will receive an at-large berth to the NCAA tournament with its strong overall record in the East region.

The game started with the Cardinals flying seeming to control the fast-paced tempo they like to play. Keeping fresh legs on the field with multiple substitutions, a Cardinal came off the bench and found herself with an opportunity in the 20th minute in front of an open net. Oneonta keeper Lusby got caught out of position, but the shot rolled inches past the left post wide.

Twelve seconds later the Red Dragons quickly marched down the field forcing a corner kick. In the 21st minute of play, the momentum switched as freshman DeSimone put a header past the keeper to put Oneonta ahead, 1-0 from a Wright corner kick.

With Oneonta putting the pressure on, senior Wright was awarded a penalty kick after she was pulled down inside the box. Wright stepped up and converted the kick to put the Red Dragons up 2-0.

In the 38th minute the Plattsburgh offense slipped through the defense, but was called offside as the half ended with Oneonta up 2-0.

In the first ten minutes of the second half both teams took their chances, each having two shots towards the net but all were unable to score.

In the 75th minute of play, Plattsburgh received its chance after being awarded a penalty kick after a foul inside the box against an Oneonta defender. Plattsburgh made the penalty kick to cut the lead to only one with just under 15 minutes to play.

The shots went back-and-forth as the clock winded down. Plattsburgh had two shots in the final two minutes, but couldn’t find the back of the net as time expired.
DeSimone, Wright and freshman Alaina Greco joined tournament MVP, senior Erin Boyle on the All-Tournament team for Oneonta.

Men’s Soccer (11-4-4)

Nov. 5th vs. Plattsburgh, T 2-2 (Lost 5-3 on PK’s) (SUNYAC Tournament Semifinal)
The first match-up last Friday saw the No. 1 seed Red Dragons versus the No. 4 seed SUNY Plattsburgh. Unfortunately the home fans walked away slightly disappointed as Oneonta was defeated by Plattsburgh after two overtimes and shootout period last Friday.

The game went back and forth with each team having ample opportunities to put their team ahead but neither was unable to convert.

The first half was for the defense as the game was scoreless at the half. Goalkeeper Maxwell Siegelman had three saves for the Red Dragons keeping them in the game. Plattsburgh’s defense held Oneonta to only two shots.

In the second half Plattsburgh rode the leg of their star as he got the ball rolling with a shot off a corner putting the Cardinals up 1-0 in the 48th minute of play.

Junior Nicholas Gregg wasn’t going to let the lead remain as he had his own shot off a corner that made the back of the net just four minutes later tying the game at one a piece.

As the teams battled for possession, it was the Cardinals that once again found a way to score. After an Oneonta penalty, Plattsburgh kicked the ball from the right side of the field 30 yards out. The ball rattled around and a Cardinal found it with enough time to turn and score.

With the game seeming to be over, it was the head of top scorer sophomore Dan Josepher for the Red Dragons in the mix. Junior Matthew Brown kicked a Hail Mary kick into the box where Josepher out jumped everyone heading it past the keeper in the 42 minute of play to tie it a 2-2.

Both overtimes went scoreless which led to the shootout period. In the shootout, Plattsburgh was able to convert all five of their attempts, and Plattsburgh’s keeper was able to make one save for the win.

Field Hockey (12-7/2-4 SUNYAC)

Nov. 10th vs. Kean, W 4-1 (ECAC Tournament - Quarterfinals)
After finishing the regular season 11-7 the SUNY Oneonta field hockey team was awarded the No. 4 seed in the DIII ECAC tournament. Along with being one of the top seeds, they were host to the Mid Atlantic quarterfinal round of the tournament and faced Kean College. With two goals by both senior Ainsley Stoll and sophomore Megan Warning the Red Dragons won with confidence 4-1 over the cougars last Wednesday.

Oneonta seized their sticks and their determination and never looked back as they controlled most of the game against visiting Kean.

In the 10th minute of play Stoll made her presence felt after junior Jacqueline Camp sent a pass from 25 yards out into the circle where Stoll redirected it past the goalie.

Just over 11 minutes later Stoll came back again. Senior Rachel Taylor moved the ball down the left side of the field and was able to pass it past the defenders to the center where Stoll was waiting and scored putting the Red Dragons up 2-0.

After two back-to-back shots by Kean, where Oneonta’s defense blocked the shots, they were able to send the ball up the turf. Stoll looking for a third goal but instead made a smart pass to
Warning, who was waiting behind the defense was able to shoot it past the goalie to end the first half leading 3-0.

In the second half, Kean boosted their offense, taking a total of 10 shots but came up unsuccessful early on.

In the 54th minute of play Warning once again received the pass from Stoll and scored putting the Red Dragons up 4-0 and looking for the win.

Three minutes later a Kean player hustled down the middle of the turf and ended the shut out putting the Cougars on the board but down still 4-1.

Kean continued to put the pressure on shooting five of their 10 shots in the final minutes of play but time expired and the Red Dragons will move on.

Women’s Swimming & Diving (1-1/1-1)

Nov. 6th at New Paltz, L 87-118
The Oneonta State women’s swimming and diving team dropped a closely contested meet last Saturday at New Paltz, 87-118.

The Red Dragons were led by a contingent of freshmen and sophomores on the afternoon. Sophomores Samantha Pepe and Kristen Magliola each won their respective events. Pepe finished first in the 200 yard butterfly with a time of 2:28.58. Magliola won the 200 yard backstroke with a time of 2:18.09.

Freshman Alexxa Poliachik won the 50 yard butterfly with a time of 26.51. Classmates Melissa Erickson won the 500 yard freestyle in 5:36.67 and Lindsey Molfino finished second in the 200 yard butterfly behind Pepe with a time of 2:30.91.

Men’s Swimming & Diving (1-1/1-1)

Nov. 6th at New Paltz, L 63-137
The Oneonta State men’s swimming and diving team was defeated on the road to New Paltz last Saturday, 63-137.

Sophomore Alex Miller won two events on the afternoon for the Red Dragons. In the 200 yard IM by six second over the second place finisher. He completed the event in a time of 2:08.08. He repeated the performance in the 200 yard backstroke where he won by the same amount of time, 6 seconds, over a Hawk. His time in the backstrokes was 2:05.48.

The Red Dragons took first and second in the 200 yard butterfly. Finishing in first was freshman Ryan Walsh with a time of 2:04.82. Right behind Walsh was sophomore Steven Hourigan with a time of 2:11.04.

Wrestling (1-0)

Nov. 6th at Monarch Invitational, 4th place – 96.5 points
The SUNY Oneonta wrestling team opened its season at the Monarch Invitational hosted by King’s College and came away with a fourth place finish, scoring 96.5 points last Saturday. Leading the list of place-winners was newcomer Dan Graff, who won the title at 149 lbs. in his first collegiate tournament. Overall, the Red Dragons had eight individuals place in the top six in their respective weight classes.

The tournament was won by Wilkes University with 155 points, followed by Roger Williams University with 112 points. York College (PA) was third with 110.5 points.
Graff, who was unseeded in his weight class, had to wrestle his way into the bracket of 16. He started his day with back-to-back decisions before recording a major decision versus Chris O’Shea of Roger Williams to put him into the championship semifinals. In the semifinals he advanced due to a medical forfeit, which set up a meeting with the No. 1 seed in his bracket. Graff recorded a 5-3 win against Nicholas Herrick of Roger Williams to take home the title.

Teammate Toby Reese also placed in the 149 lbs. weight class, finishing sixth.

Of the remaining six place-winners in the tournament, Oneonta had two 2nd place finishers, three 3rd place finishers and one 6th place finish.

Another newcomer, freshman Derek Wignall, had a strong showing in his first collegiate outing, taking second place at 197 lbs. Wignall drew the top seed in his bracket in his opening match and advanced due to an injury default. He moved through the bracket with two more wins by decision before falling to the No. 2 seed, George Saliba of York.

Oneonta’s other runner-up finisher was senior Michael Gregg at 141 lbs. Gregg, seeded fourth, easily won his first two matches to advance into the championship semifinals. In the semifinals, he knocked off the No. 1 seed, Andrew Fisher of Wilkes University. Gregg’s run came to an end in the title match to Chris Albright of York.

Rounding out the group of wrestlers that placed was senior Brian Kramer (3rd, 184 lbs.), sophomore JP Sala (3rd, 165 lbs.), and freshmen Chad Obzud (6th, 184 lbs.) and Ben Mikac (3rd, 133 lbs.).

Nov. 10th vs RIT, W 27-6
The SUNY Oneonta wrestling team opened the dual-match portion of its schedule in a big way last Wednesday, easily defeating RIT, 27-6. The Red Dragons won eight of the 10 weight classes as they cruised to its first win of the season.

Oneonta won six of its eight matches by decision while recording one major decision and one technical fall. Junior Jimmy Neal recorded the tech fall for Oneonta at 174 lbs. as he won 17-2 against Collin Doane, ending the match in the third period.

Oneonta’s major decision came at 149 lbs. as ECWC Rookie of the Week, Graff, remained undefeated on the season with a 10-0 victory against Kyle Hoffer.

Oneonta is off to Wilkes University this Saturday to compete in the John Reese Duals.