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

CONTACT: Jerry Reilly,
Sports Information Director

DATE: Sat., Nov. 4, 2006

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Men's Soccer

Devils fall 1-0 in SUNYAC title game

ONEONTA, N.Y. -- Fredonia State's bid to claim its first SUNYAC men's soccer championship in eight years ended with a 1-0 title game loss Saturday to Geneseo at Hall of Fame Fields.

A first-half goal accounted for all the scoring and strong play by the Geneseo defense kept the Blue Devils (11-7-1) from netting the equalizer. The victory resulted in Geneseo's second-ever SUNYAC title -- its first came in 2004 -- and an automatic NCAA Tournament berth.

The Blue Devils, seeded No. 2 to Geneseo's No. 1, were attempting to claim the program's eighth SUNYAC men's soccer title but its first since 1998.

The Geneseo scoring play, in the 29th minute, began in its defensive end. Following a no-call on an apparent hand ball against Geneseo, the Blue Knights (14-4-1) hurried the ball into the midfield. Sophomore midfielder Judah Manetta (Rochester) made a brilliant run through defenders and drew Fredonia State goalkeeper Scott Bergen (Schnectady/Mohonasen) out of the net. A short pass ahead to junior forward Patrick Occhiuto (Williamsville) resulted in Occhiuto getting off a shot from a sharp angle to the left of the goal. A Fredonia State defender made a desperate sliding attempt to stop the shot but just missed.

The Blue Devils kept the ball in their offensive end for a good portion of the second half. Their best chance to score came in the 71st minute off a corner kick by junior midfielder Rob Esposito (Dover Plains/Dover). The ball went to junior forward Trevor Ianni (Rochester/Gates Chili) deep in the box. Geneseo sophomore goalkeeper Jeremy Reeves (Palmyra) stopped Ianni's point-blank shot. Reeves completed the shutout by making four saves, all of them in shots by Ianni. The Blue Devils were outshot 14-7 with Bergen making six stops in the Fredonia State net.

Three Fredonia State seniors were chosen to the all-tournament team: forward Matt Mahaffey (Lakeview/Frontier), and defenders Jordan Berg (Jamestown/Jamestown) and Kevin Swain (Churchville/Churchville-Chili).

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