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

CONTACT: Jerry Reilly,
Sports Information Director

DATE: Sun., Nov. 12, 2006

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Men's Soccer

Devils claim ECAC title in a shootout

ONEONTA, N.Y. -- Fredonia State claimed the ECAC Upstate New York men's soccer tournament title by prevailing 3-0 over Oneonta in the tie-breaking shootout.

Junior goalkeeper Scott Bergen (Schenectady/Mohonasen) claimed the tournament MVP award after making three saves in regulation and overtime and one save during the shootout. He also authored a 1-0 overtime win over Union College in the semifinal round Saturday.

The Fredonia State bench stormed the field after Oneonta junior Scott DePersis (Johnson City/Johnson City) hit the inside of the cross bar and the ball bounced out on his team's third try in the shootout portion. The Blue Devils (12-7-2) battled Oneonta (16-2-2) to a 1-1 draw through regulation and the two sudden-victory periods before prevailing to claim their first ECAC title since 1999.

Fredonia State made three straight kicks in the shootout before DePersis's miss that would have forced a fourth kicker for the Blue Devils to come out. Junior Rob Esposito (Dover Plains/Dover), senior Victor Ianni (Rochester/Gates-Chili), and senior Kevin Swain (Churchville/Churchville-Chili) netted their shots in succession.

Bergen countered by stopping the first shot he faced, followed by an Oneonta miss over the top of the net, and the goal-post ricochet by DePersis.

During regulation play, Oneonta struck first midway through the first half when DePersis headed in a corner kick by junior Keith Manscuk (Rochester/Aquinas). The Blue Devils tied the game six minutes later on an unassisted goal by freshman Ryan O'Donnell (Orchard Park, NY/Orchard Park). O'Donnell created the opportunity for himself by dribbling free from two defenders and taking a shot that actually deflected off the Oneonta keeper and into the goal. It was his team-leading seventh goal of the season.

In addition to Ianni and Swain, midfielder Jordan Berg (Jamestown/Jamestown), forward Matt Mahaffey (Lakeview/Frontier), and midfielder Alex Parker (Pittsford/Pittsford-Mendon) were playing in their final collegiate game. Defender Jeff Morsch (Fairport/Fairport), a senior, has one season of NCAA eligibility remaining.

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