Box Score

Freshman Justin Rivera one-touched a crossing pass from junior Alex Shkreli and put it in the back of the goal in the 62nd minute to lift Oneonta State to a 1-0 victory versus Brockport in the championship game of the 2011 SUNYAC tournament.  The Red Dragons defense made the goal stand as Oneonta (14-2-2) captured its first conference title since rejoining the ranks of Div. III in 2007.

Rivera, along with seniors Gary Laronde, Nicholas Gregg and Raymond Fitzpatrick were all selected to the All-Tournament Team.  Laronde was selected as the tournament Most Valuable Player.

The rest of the All-Tournament Team included Kyle Sauln, Aubrey Brown and Max Egan of Brockport; Pat Shaughnessy and Nate Economou of Plattsburgh; Colin Begy and John Piaggione of Geneseo;

The SUNYAC title is Oneonta’s first since 1985, when they were competing in the conference while playing a Div. I schedule.  The Red Dragons earned the SUNYAC’s automatic berth into the NCAA tournament, which will be the program’s first trip to the big dance since 1975, when they played in the college division tournament bracket of the NCAA.

Oneonta has now won 10 straight games and is unbeaten in its last 15 games entering the NCAA tournament field of 64, which will be announced on Monday afternoon.  The win today also set a program record of 24 games without a loss at home, a streak that began in 2009.  The old record was set during the years 1970-73.

The win was also head coach Iain Byrne’s 101st as a head coach, who reached the 100 win plateau in Oneonta’s win versus Plattsburgh in the semifinals this past Wednesday.

Oneonta dominated play this afternoon, generating 17 shots while holding the Golden Eagles to four shots.  The most dangerous opportunity for Brockport (12-4-1) came in the 89th minute when sophomore Bobby Ross  blasted a ball from just outside the box over the goal.  Today’s loss for the Golden Eagles was its first since they had lost to Oneonta, 3-1, during the regular season on Sep. 30.

Oneonta goalie, Maxwell Siegelman didn’t have to make a save today while his counterpart; Kyle Sauln came up with seven stops.

When and where Oneonta will play next will be found out Monday, but either way, they will be playing next weekend.

Goals by period       1  2  Tot
-------------------------------
Brockport...........  0  0 -  0
Oneonta State.......  0  1 -  1

SCORING SUMMARY:
1.  61:04 ONEMS Justin Rivera (4) (Alex Shkreli) - cross one touch shot

Shots: Brockport 4, Oneonta State 17
Saves: Brockport 7 (Kyle Sauln 7), Oneonta State 0 (Maxwell Siegelman)