SUNY Oneonta Athletics

Softball (29-9/15-3 SUNYAC)
 
May 1^st vs. New Paltz, W 12-2 (5)
The SUNY Oneonta softball team sent an early message early to the rest of the SUNYAC that they are the team to beat, as they opened the 2014 conference tournament with a convincing 12-2 win against New Paltz in five innings.  The Red Dragons slammed three home runs and freshman Sabrina DeAngelis (East Meadow/Kellenberg Memorial) kept the Hawks bats silent en route to picking up her 15 win of the season.
 
"What a great way to start the tournament," commented Oneonta coach Sara Headley.  "I am happy the way the team responded to giving up an early run.  We struggled earlier in the year against their pitcher (Rutcofsky), so it was nice to see our team make the necessary adjustments."
 
New Paltz scored its only run in the top of the first inning. 
 
Oneonta came back in the bottom of the first inning to tie the game at 1-1.  Sophomore Jamie Whittam (Saugerties/Saugerties) started things with a single up the middle and went to second on a sacrifice bunt by Jenn Brocco.  Whittam came around to score on a two-out single to left field by Marlene Cuevas (Wappingers Falls/Roy C. Ketcham).
 
The Red Dragons began to seize control of the game in the bottom of the second thanks to a two-out, two-run double by Whittam that drove in Katie O'Gorman (Clifton Park/Shenendehowa) and Nicole Marzillo (Bay Shore/Bay Shore).
 
Oneonta increased its lead to 6-1 with three more runs in the bottom of the third inning.  The first run came off the bat of Traci Lichtenstein (Plainview/JFK), as she led off the inning with a drive to center field that cleared the fence.  The next runs came in when O'Gorman cracked a double to left center field with two outs that scored both Marzillo and Brianna Rivera (Pomona/North Rockland).
 
The Red Dragons put the game out of reach in the bottom of the fourth inning when they scored six runs.  Lichtenstein struck a double to dive in Brocco with the first run.  Cuevas then homered to center field to account for the next two runs.  The final three runs of the inning came in via a three-run blast by O'Gorman with two outs.
 
May 2^nd vs. Geneseo, W 5-4 (9)
SUNY Oneonta junior, Rivera, hit a clutch, two-strike, two-out, single in the bottom of the ninth inning to lift the Red Dragons to a dramatic 5-4 walk off victory over SUNY Geneseo in its second game of the 2014 SUNYAC tournament.  Oneonta was down to its last out before rallying to tie the score and then win the game, as they remained on the winner's side of the double elimination bracket.
 
Geneseo recorded the first two outs of the ninth inning before freshman Jenn Brocco began the rally with a single down the right field line.  Lichtenstein then singled up the middle to give Oneonta two runners.  A walk to Cuevas loaded the bases for Rivera.
 
The first run for the Red Dragons came in on a passed ball, as the ball slid through the legs of the catcher.  Rivera then hit a two strike pitch up the middle to end the game.
 
"What a great game for both teams!" exclaimed Oneonta coach Sara Headley.  "I am so proud of Oneonta for staying mentally focused and coming through in the clutch!  It was a fantastic team effort."
 
Sophomore Whittam drove a solo home run over the left field fence to start the first inning for Oneonta.  Brocco walked and Cuevas singled before pinch hitter, Kelly Graham (Staten Island/Moore Catholic), hit a two-out single up the middle to drive in Brocco from third base.
 
More two-out magic for Oneonta gave them another run in the fourth inning to take a 3-0 lead.  Sophomore Meghan Foster singled to left field and came all the way around to score on a triple to right center field by Whittam.
 
Geneseo finally broke through against Oneonta starter, DeAngelis, for three runs in the sixth inning. 
 
A lead-off double chased DeAngelis from the game in the top of the seventh inning.  Junior Rachel Hitt (Boonville/Adirondack Central) then came in and recorded three straight outs to retire the Blue Knights with no damage done.
 
In the top of the ninth inning, a walk started things off for Geneseo.  The runner was then moved to second base on a sacrifice bunt.  A sharp hit ball was knocked down by Whittam, but gave the Blue Knights runners at the corners.  The runner scored on a fielder's choice when Oneonta recorded the out at second base.
 
May 3^rd vs. Brockport, W 4-1May 3^rd vs. Cortland, W 8-0 (5)
The SUNY Oneonta softball completed its greatest one season turnaround all-time last Saturday when it captured the 2014 SUNYAC softball championship with an 8-0 shutout in five innings against its rival SUNY Cortland.  Oneonta, who was picked to finish eighth by the coaches in the preseason poll, continued to believe and never gave up en route to running through the double elimination bracket without a loss.
 
"It's unbelievable," said first-year head coach Sara Headley.  "Our goal at the beginning of the season was to finish above .500.  This is amazing and I am so proud of this team for believing in the process and believing in themselves."
 
The title for Oneonta is its fourth conference championship in its history and first since 2004.  The other two championships came in 1999 and 2001.  The title also earned them an automatic berth into the NCAA tournament, which begins this coming Thursday at a site to be determined when the NCAA announces the tournament field on Monday morning at 10am on NCAA.com.
 
Last season the team finished 8-28 and didn't even qualify for the conference tournament.  Its 21 game improvement to this point is currently second all-time in the history of Division III for most improved teams.
 
"This team just continues to make it happen," stated Headley.  "They play with so much passion and they have grown so much throughout the season.  They just refuse to give up.  It is a pleasure coaching them."
 
All eight of Oneonta's runs against Cortland came with two outs including the game-winner in the bottom of the fifth.  Freshman O’Gorman stepped to the plate with pinch runner, Nicole Brieva (Kings Park/Kings Park), on first base and two outs.  O'Gorman drove a 1-2 pitch to the fence in right center, which allowed Brieva to come all the way around for the eight and final run to end the game.
 
The host Red Dragons broke the game wide open with a two-out onslaught in the bottom of the third inning to push its lead to 7-0.
 
The first two hitters of the inning were retired before sophomore Lichtenstein got things going with a single to right center field.  An infield single by freshman Cuevas gave Oneonta a pair of runners on base.  The next batter was Rivera, who stroked a single to right center to drive in Lichtenstein while getting Cuevas to third base.
 
Junior Marzillo then roped a double to left center to score both Cuevas and Rivera.  After Marzillo stole third, sophomore Kristyn Neroda (Pearl River/Pearl River) hit a single to bring home Marzillo.  Neroda wasn't on first for long, as O'Gorman hit a double to the gap in right center to score her while getting into scoring position.
 
O'Gorman scored the sixth run of the inning when sophomore Meaghan Foster (Walden/Valley Central) singled just past an outstretched second baseman.
 
In today's first game against Brockport on the winner's side of the bracket, the Red Dragons took advantage of four Golden Eagle errors that led to three unearned runs in a 4-1 win.
 
Tournament MVP, freshman DeAngelis, collected both wins today, as she ran her season record to 17-5.  DeAngelis was 3-0 in the tournament with a 1.27 ERA.  In 22 innings she allowed 21 hits and five runs while recording 11 strikeouts.
 
O'Gorman, Rivera and Cuevas joined DeAngelis on the All-Tournament Team.  O'Gorman was 6-for-14 with all six hits being for extra bases including a home run in the tournament opener on Thursday against New Paltz.  O'Gorman drove in a team high eight runs over the four games.
 
Rivera had five hits and two runs batted in while Cuevas collected five hits including a home run while driving in four runs.
 
Headley concluded, "We are playing with a high amount of synergy right now.  We are looking forward to the NCAA tournament and we will bring our brand of softball with us, which is tough defense, strong pitching and timely hitting."
 
Women’s Lacrosse (12-7)
 
May 2^nd at Cortland, L 6-12 (SUNYAC Tournament Semifinals)
Cortland defeated Oneonta 12-6 in the SUNYAC Tournament semifinals last Friday.
 
Six different players scored a goal for the visiting Red Dragons paced by senior Chelsea Collins (St. James/Smithtown East) and freshman Katie Flannery (Massapequa/Plainedge) with one goal and one assist apiece. Juniors Nikki Fioretti (Yorktown Heights/Yorktown), Nicole Boylan (Massapequa/Massapequa) and Kiera McNally (East Northport/Northport) and sophomore Catherine Clark (Burnt Hills/Burnt Hills) each contributed a goal.
 
Sophomore goalie Amanda Reichardt (Kings Park/Kings Park) made 10 saves for Oneonta in 58 minutes, 11 seconds before giving way to senior Laura Grose (Yorktown Heights/Yorktown), who did not stop a shot over the final 1:49. Junior Marissa Makar (Yorktown/Yorktown) registered three caused turnovers and three ground balls and senior Casey Sarle (West Islip/West Islip) secured a game-high nine draw controls.
 
Cortland opened up a 4-1 lead after the first 30 minutes in a half played mostly at a deliberate pace. Cortland out shot Oneonta, 16-3, in the half, but Reichardt made five saves, several at point-blank range, and the home Red Dragons hit the pipe three times. Boylan opened the scoring at 28:20 before Cortland closed the half with four goals in a row.
 
The host Red Dragons appeared to have taken control of the game with three quick goals to open the second half. Clark and Flannery answered with goals just 34 seconds apart, however, to cut the lead to 7-3 with 27:00 to play. Cortland scored twice to give them back a six-goal lead with goals, but Oneonta pulled to within 9-5 with 14:25 on the clock on scores from Collins and Fioretti. Neither team found the back of the net again until Cortland scored with 2:26 remaining. After McNally made it a 10-6 game at 1:49, Cortland closed out the scoring and sealed the win with goals at 1:24 and 36 seconds.
 
Men’s Track & Field
May 2^nd & 3^rd at SUNYAC Outdoor Championships, 1^st place with 173 ptsThe SUNY Oneonta men's track & field team won six individual titles en route to claiming the 2014 SUNYAC outdoor track & field championship last weekend at SUNY Geneseo.  For the men, it was its first outdoor championship all-time and the program's second overall.  In 2012, the Red Dragons won the SUNYAC indoor championship.  The Red Dragons amassed 173, which was 9.5 points ahead of rival SUNY Cortland.
 
"I love the SUNYAC Championship meet because it truly brings us together as a team," said head coach Angelo Posillico, who won his first title.  "These men have created an identity for themselves where they are expected to contend for the team title.  This weekend they believed in themselves and that confidence carried us to a championship."
 
On the track, juniors Charles Remillard (Peru/Peru) and Rob Farrell (Carmel/Mahopac), sophomores Joe Carr (Burnt Hills/Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake) and Jake Alviene (East Greenbush/Columbia) each won individual conference titles.
 
Remillard ran a time of 9:31.04 to win his first outdoor title in the 3000m steeplechase.  He was also fifth in the 5000m run with a time of 15:48.79.
 
Farrell won his second outdoor title and first in the 400m hurdles.  As a freshman, he was the outdoor champion in the 110m high hurdles.
 
Carr won his first individual outdoor title when he captured the 200m dash.  During the prelims, he set a facility record of 21.33 while posting a time of 21.20 in the finals.  He was also second in the 100m dash and medaled in both the 4x100m and 4x400m relays, which finished third and second respectively.
 
Alviene also had a strong day for Oneonta on the track.  Alviene won his second straight 110m high hurdle title while placing eighth in the 100, fifth in the 200 while also being a part of the 4x100 relay.
 
In the field, it was senior Joe Fox (West Nyack/Clarkstown South) and junior Patrick Weinert (Schenevus/Schenevus) who captured SUNYAC titles in the discus and hammer throws respectively.  Fox won the event after finishing second at last year's championships.  Weinert won his second straight hammer title.  Fox set a facility record with a distance of 45.42m while Weinert set a facility record with a throw of 55.28m.
 
Other athletes who earned individual medals for Oneonta today included junior Andrew Bohunicky (Johnson City/Maine-Endwell) and J.D. Roth (Pearl River/Nanuet).  Bohunicky finished third in the 1500m run with a time of 4:00.00.  Roth was second in both the shot put and hammer throws.
 
Athletes who earned medals as part of the two relays included Farrell and classmate David Bohunicky (Johnson City/Maine-Endwell), and freshman Mike Engesser (Medford, NY/Longwood) as part of the 4x400 relay and sophomores Thomas Wheeler (Rocky Point/Rocky Point) and freshman Jonathan Albert (White Plains, NY/Woodlands) as part of the 4x100 relay.
 
Oneonta will host its annual May Meet next Saturday beginning at 2pm.
 Women’s Track & Field
 
May 2^nd & 3^rd at SUNYAC Outdoor Championships, 4^th place with 110 pts.
The SUNY Oneonta women's track & field team finished fourth last weekend at the SUNYAC outdoor championships hosted by SUNY Geneseo.  The Red Dragons scored 110 points overall, only six points behind third place Brockport.  The overall team championship went to SUNY Cortland, who scored 168 points.
 
Overall, the squad came home with two individual conference titles and one additional individual medalist and a medal-winning relay.
 
"For the women, this spring has been a big step back towards the top," said head coach Angelo Posillico.  "We were 10 points out of a runner-up finish this weekend with a lot of young talent.  I am proud to coach such motivated student-athletes.  I'm looking forward to enjoying the ECAC and NCAA Championships with the group we have continuing."
 
Senior Danielle Kennedy (Stony Point/Albertus Magnus) added her first outdoor SUNYAC title today when she won the 5000m run.  Kennedy had previously won two indoor titles in the 3000m run.  Her winning time today was 17:35.88, which was 14 seconds ahead of the second place finisher.  Kennedy was also a medalist in the 1500m run after placing third with a time of 4:42.56, which was a personal best time for her in the distance.
 
Oneonta's other title came from freshman Alexandria Kober (Webster/Webster Schroeder), who won the triple jump by nearly one-half a meter.  Her distance of 11.40m outdistanced the second place jumper, who recorded a distance of 11.08m.  Kober also scored points in the long jump with her fifth place finish.
 
Oneonta's final individual medalist was freshman, Carrie Small (Rockland County/North Rockland), who was third in the 400m hurdles.  She crossed the line in a time of 1:04.57, as Oneonta went 3-4-5 in the event.  Juniors Amanda Knox (Gloversville/Goversville) and Chelsea Christonikos (New City/Clarkstown South) finished right behind Small in fourth and fifth respectively.
 
Small ran the lead leg for the 4x100m relay that medaled for Oneonta, finishing third with a time of 48.97.  Senior Brittany Cocchieri (Airmont/Suffern) and Shana Ventresca (Niagara Falls/Niagara Falls) and sophomore Kashique Robinson (White Plains/Woodlands) ran the other three legs of the relay.