Geneseo N.Y. - On one of the coldest days in Western New York this fall with the lights on for a 1 p.m. start the one seed Geneseo Knight faced the five seed Oneonta Red Dragons in a State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) women's soccer semifinal in Geneseo. The Knights held on to a 2 to 1 victory over an upset-minded Red Dragons.
The first 33 minutes of the first half we scoreless with both teams having half chances on each end. With just under 12 minutes to go in the first half Geneseo score the first goal of the game. The goal was netted by the junior Jennifer Moran with a nice chip from the top left corner of the Oneonta box that went right over the head of the Oneonta goalie to the bottom right corner. The Knights didn't have much time to celebrate the goal with the Red Dragons scoring just a minute later with a goal from freshman Micaela Honsinger. Honsinger scored off of a scramble in front of the Geneseo box where the ball fell to her and she slotted the ball into the bottom left of the net.
Much like the first half, the second half started with no goals and both teams having half-chances but no clear-cut chances. Geneseo controlled much of the ball in the second half with Oneonta looking to score on the counter-attack. With just under 5 minutes to go in the game, Geneseo sophomore Domenica Piccoli scored on a failed header from a Oneonta defender, which led to a scramble in front of the net, where the ball landed kindly for Piccoli who just had a tap in to put the Knights up 2 to 1. Geneseo went on to hold on for the victory and advances to the SUNYAC women's soccer final.
Geneseo will go on to play Plattsburgh at 1 p.m. at home for the SUNYAC title.
Plattsburgh, N.Y .- The Plattsburgh St. women's soccer team was able to defeat Cortland, 3-0, at the Field House Complex Wednesday afternoon in Plattsburgh.
Throughout the first thirty-five minutes, both teams played to a scoreless draw. This period was highlighted by several dramatic saves, especially Cortland's Abby Miller flicking a shot over the crossbar to keep her team in the game. The Red Dragons and the Cardinals continued to battle back-and-forth.
Then, in the thirty-sixth minute, Plattsburgh's Sarah Haight crossed the ball into Sarah Bonner, who buried a header to give the Cardinals the lead. The first half ended with no additional scoring.
The second half saw Cortland jump out on the early attack. The Red Dragons had two plays inside the goal area that nearly resulted in scores. After that, Plattsburgh was able to regain momentum. In the seventy-fifth minute, Sarah Bonner found the back of the net once again to put Plattsburgh up 2-0. Just as last time, Sarah Haight made the pass off of a corner kick to set Bonner up. The Cardinals got an insurance goal from Madeline Saccocio in the eightieth minute and closed the game out.
Plattsburgh's Nicole Gibson earned a shutout and recorded seven saves in the victory.
The Cardinals will go on to face Geneseo in the SUNYAC Championship game on Saturday, November 4 in Geneseo.
