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

CONTACT: Jerry Reilly,
Sports Information Director

DATE: Fri., Nov. 3, 2006

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Men's Soccer

Mahaffey tallies semifinal winner in second OT

ONEONTA, N.Y. -- A goal by senior forward Matt Mahaffey (Hamburg/Frontier) late in the second overtime produced a hard-fought 1-0 Fredonia State victory over Plattsburgh in the SUNYAC Tournament semifinals.

Mahaffey broke free down the right side and drilled a hard, true shot from 15 yards out after a perfect set-up by junior midfielder Rob Esposito (Dover Plains/Dover). It was Mahaffey's team-leading sixth goal of the season and Esposito's team-leading sixth assist.

Esposito started the scoring play when he took possession of the ball in the midfield. He beat a Plattsburgh double-team and split the defenders with a pass onto the foot of Mahaffey in the 103rd minute. The official time of the goal was 102:44.

Fredonia State junior goalkeeper Scott Bergen (Schenectady/Mohonasen) made four saves -- two in the first half and two in the first overtime -- to post his sixth shutout of the season.

The Blue Devils (11-6-1), seeded No. 2, will meet No. 1 seed Geneseo for the SUNYAC title -- and an automatic NCAA berth -- at 11 a.m. Saturday on Hall of Fame Fields in Oneonta. Geneseo advanced with a 1-0 semifinal win over No. 5 seed Oswego in the other semifinal game played Friday.

Plattsburgh's loss was its second of the season to Fredonia State. The Blue Devils were 2-0 winners Sept. 15 at home. Since that game, the Cardinals -- the No. 1 choice of SUNYAC coaches in their preseason poll -- were 12-1-1 prior to Friday. They came into the semifinal with streaks of eight straight wins and 11 straight games without a loss (10-0-1), yet were the No. 3 seed.

On the other hand, the Blue Devils were coming off two losses -- 3-1 Oct. 20 at Geneseo, and 2-0 Oct. 21 at Brockport. Their only competition since the latter game was 10 minutes in the slop Oct. 28 at home vs. Hobart before the game was suspended and subsequently cancelled.

Fredonia State's most recent appearance in a SUNYAC championship game was 2003, resulting in a 1-0 double-overtime loss to Cortland. The Blue Devils' last SUNYAC men's soccer championship was won in 1998.

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