Sports Information Department – 112 Dods Hall
Phone (716) 673-3100 / Fax (716) 673-3136

CONTACT: Jerry Reilly,
Sports Information Director

DATE: Tues., Nov. 1, 2005

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Men's soccer

Quick start carries Devils over Oswego

FREDONIA, N.Y. -- Fredonia State scored three early goals and cruised through the rain to a 7-0 victory over Oswego in the first round of the SUNYAC Tournament.

Junior forward Matt Mahaffey (Lakeview/Frontier) scored the first goals, at 3:02 and 6:15, and senior defender Brandon Derkacz (Hamburg/Hamburg) made it 3-0 at 8:45 to earn the Blue Devils (15-3-2) a quick and decisive advantage on a sloppy field.

The victory meant Fredonia State, the No. 3 seed in the six-team bracket, will play No. 2 seed Brockport in one semifinal, while Geneseo will meet No. 1 seed Plattsburgh in the other. Both games start 1:30 p.m. Friday at Hall of Fame Fields in Oneonta.

The championship game is 1:30 p.m. Saturday.

Mahaffey's two goals were his team-leading seventh and eighth of the season. The first goal was a header from about 10 yards out following a free kick from midfield by senior defender Bryon Thoin (Buffalo/St. Joseph's). The second goal was an open 15-yard shot following a run and pass by junior forward Steve Lesmes (Fredonia/Fredonia).

A corner kick by junior midfielder Jordan Berg (Jamestown/Jamestown) set up Derkacz's goal, a header taken from near the left post.

Before halftime, sophomore defender Matt Smith (Lockport/Lockport) increased the Fredonia State lead to 4-0 with a goal at 39:07, his fourth of the season and third in the last four games.

In the second half, freshman forward Jason Januskiewiczy (Warwick, R.I), junior midfielder Nathan Goss (North Tonawanda/Niagara Wheatfield), and freshman forward Nick Deck (Cicero/Cicero-North Syracuse) each had a goal, the second of the season for all three players. Lesmes earned his second assist of the game on Deck's goal at 89:21.

The Blue Devils held a 31-9 advantage in shots, and a 6-2 advantage in corner kicks. Senior goalkeeper Matt Borchard (Williamsville/Williamsville South) made three saves in 76 minutes. His replacement, senior Yoshikazu Arai (Yokohama, Japan), had one save over the final 14 minutes.

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