CORTLAND, N.Y. – The nationally second-ranked Cortland men's lacrosse team allowed just one goal in each half en route to a 9-2 victory versus Geneseo Saturday afternoon in the SUNYAC Finals at the Stadium Complex. The Red Dragons improved to 18-0 on the season and won their fifth straight conference title, earning an automatic NCAA Div. III playoff berth. The Knights had a six-game winning streak snapped and finished the season at 6-8.

Seven different players scored goals for Cortland with freshman Matt Rakoczy (Clifton Park/Albany Academy) leading the way with three. Senior Zack Mulvaney (Deferiet/Carthage) scored a career-high five points on one goal and a career-best four assists. Senior Greg Wright (Irondequoit/West Irondequoit) added one goal and one assist, and senior Mike Tota (Webster/Webster Schroeder), juniors Taylor Mendoza (Greensboro, NC/Western Guilford) and Craig Sullivan (Duxbury, MA) and sophomore Cody Consul (Webster/Webster Schroeder) each netted a goal. Senior Eric Richards (Skaneateles) and freshman Luke McNaney (Marcellus) contributed one assist apiece.

Junior goalie Mike Kaminski (Sayville) was named the tournament MVP after stopping eight shots and collecting three ground balls for the Red Dragons. Junior Nick Jarvis (Syracuse/South Onondaga) won 8-of-15 faceoffs and collected six ground balls. Junior C.J. Nye (Marcellus) and sophomore Brian Winterfeldt (Merrick/Calhoun) each scooped up five ground balls, while Tota and sophomore Doug Meehan (Sayville) recorded four ground balls each.

Sophomore John Wettack (Mercer Island, WA) tallied both of Geneseo's goals with senior Brendan Kurpis (Yorktown) collecting an assist. Junior goalie Michael Greubel (North Merrick/Mepham) turned aside 13 shots. Junior Frank DiSanti (Melville/Half Hollow Hills East) compiled six ground balls, and junior Bob Mascia (East Aurora) had three caused turnovers.

The Red Dragons built a 4-0 lead after the first 15 minutes of play with Mulvaney assisting on three of the goals. Tota scored on a low shot in front at 13 minutes, 52 seconds to open the scoring. Mendoza made it 2-0 at 10:35 before Wright and Rakoczy netted goals just 41 seconds apart late in the quarter. Sullivan, a close defenseman, registered his first goal of the season 29 seconds into the second quarter, and Mulvaney pushed the lead to 6-0 at 5:12. Wettack finally put the Knights on the scoreboard at 3:46, and Cortland led 6-1 at the half. Kaminski even recorded a shot late in the opening half when he covered the length of the field on a clear but was stuffed in front by Greubel. As Geneseo worked the ensuing clear, Kaminski was able to sprint back into his cage before the Knights could generate a scoring chance.

Rakoczy scored the only goal of the third quarter at 5:28 as Cortland outshot Geneseo, 8-2, in the stanza. Rakoczy's third goal of the game at 12:25 of the fourth quarter made it 8-1. Wettack scored a man-up goal at 10:57, but the Knights could not crack Cortland's defense again. Consul finished the scoring at 2:11 for the 9-2 final.

Joining Kaminski on the All-Tournament Team were Mulvaney, Jarvis, Sullivan and Rakoczy of Cortland, Wettack, Greubel and senior Derek Drance (Huntington/Harborfields) of Geneseo, Blair Hanson and Hugh O'Gorman of Oneonta and Tucker Glass and Andrew Tralongo of Plattsburgh.  

Cortland 9, Geneseo 2

GAME SUMMARY:

Team                                 1-2-3-4    Final
Geneseo (6-8)                 0-1-0-1      2
Cortland (18-0)                 4-2-1-2     9

Scoring (Goals-Assists):

Geneseo: John Wettack 2-0, Brendan Kurpis 0-1 
Cortland: Matt Rakoczy 3-0, Zack Mulvaney 1-4, Greg Wright 1-1, Mike Tota 1-0, Taylor Mendoza 1-0, Craig Sullivan 1-0, Cody Consul 1-0, Eric Richards 0-1, Luke McNaney 0-1

Goalkeepers:
Geneseo: Michael Greubel, 13 saves (9 GA in 60:00)
Cortland: Mike Kaminski, 8 saves (2 GA in 60:00)

Shots: Cortland 35, Geneseo 19
Ground Balls: Cortland 44, Geneseo 34
Turnovers: Geneseo 16, Cortland 14
Caused Turnovers: Cortland10, Geneseo 9
Clears: Cortland 22-of-23, Geneseo 15-of-20
Faceoffs Won: Cortland 8, Geneseo 7
Penalties: Cortland 4-3:30, Geneseo 3-2:30
Extra-Man Offense: Geneseo 1-4, Cortland 1-3