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

CONTACT: Jerry Reilly,
Sports Information Director

DATE: Sun., Nov. 13, 2005

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Men's soccer

Devils advance to NCAA Round of 16

UNIVERSITY HEIGHTS, Ohio -- Sophomore defender Lee Wilson (Fairport/Fairport) picked a great time to score his first goal of the season.

With 7:31 expired in the first 10-minute overtime, Wilson became the hero when his shot following a corner kick skipped into the net and sent the Blue Devils (17-3-3) past John Carroll, 1-0, in the next round of the NCAA Division III tournament.

The Blue Devils will face Calvin College next weekend in a sectional semifinal at a site to be determined. An announcement on the game particulars is expected by Monday.

It'll mark the third time Fredonia State has advanced to the NCAA Round of 16, but only the first time since 1986.

"This is fantastic," head coach P.J. Gondek said. "What a great weekend."

The Blue Devils needed two overtimes to win their first-round game, 4-3, over Carnegie Mellon on Saturday at John Carroll.

Senior midfielder Vincenzo Alfieri (Rochester/McQuaid) earned an assist on Wilson's goal. It was Alfieri's corner kick which set up the score. Taking the ball up high, Wilson took a hard, low shot through a crowd which eluded John Carroll goalkeeper Ben Carro, who had ventured out of the net to cut down the angle.

The ball skipped once off the turf field and came to rest in the net. Wilson became the 18th Blue Devil with at least one goal this season. It was his second goal as a collegian.

The game nearly ended minutes earlier when JCU's Louis Kastelic sent a header near the right post toward the net, only to have Blue Devil senior goalkeeper Matt Borchard (Williamsville/Williamsville South) deflect the ball away with a high leap.

Kastelic also nearly scored in the second half but hit the junction of the crossbar and goalpost behind Borchard. The Blue Devils best scoring chance came during the first half when junior midfielder Alex Parker (Pittsford/Pittsford-Mendon) misfired hard and high after taking a crossing pass from a teammate.

Borchard made three saves to earn his 15th solo shutout of the season, and the 18th overall by the Blue Devils. Carro made seven saves for JCU.

Fredonia State had an edge in shots, 13-12, while John Carroll had a 4-3 advantage in corner kicks.

The teams met earlier in the season with the Blue Devils also prevailing, 1-0, Sept. 24 at Fredonia.

"They were very good," Gondek said of the Blue Streaks (13-7-1), who are now 97-15-7 at home since 1990. "They were better than when we played them earlier this year."

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