NEW PALTZ, N.Y. - SUNY Geneseo junior midfielder Diana Ruggiero scored the lone goal of the match to lead the third-seeded Knights past second-seeded New Paltz, 1-0, in the State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) Tournament Semifinals, Wednesday.
With the victory, Geneseo (10-9) advances to its second championship match in three years where it will host fourth-seeded Oneonta on Saturday (Nov. 5) at 1:00 p.m. The Red Dragons upset top-seeded Cortland in overtime, 2-1, in the afternoon's other semifinal match.
Despite being out-shot, 21-9, Geneseo junior goalie Nicole Gregg tied a season-high with 11 saves to preserve the team's sixth shutout of the season to backstop the Knights to their ninth victory in its last 10 outings.
Ruggiero finished off a penalty corner attempt in the 30th minute off a pass from junior forward Giovanna Fasanello and an insert by junior midfielder Morgan Maley for what proved to be the deciding tally of the match.
Facing each other in the postseason for the fourth-consecutive season, the Knights were victorious for the first time after falling to the Hawks in the 2013 (3-1) and 2015 (2-1) semifinals and the 2014 (4-0) championship game.
Saturday's match will mark Geneseo's third SUNYAC Championship appearance overall. The Knights' defeated Cortland, 1-0, in the 2010 final for the program's lone conference title.
