SUNY Cortland defeated Geneseo,12-5, in the State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) women's lacrosse championship. This marks the 15th consecutive SUNYAC Lacrosse title for the Cortland women, and their 16th overall.

Cortland has won all but one SUNYAC women's lacrosse title since SUNYAC introduced the tournament in 1997. Oneonta won in 1998.

Cortland was ranked No. 1 coming into the SUNYAC Tournament finishing 8-0 in conference play and 17-1 overall. Geneseo was ranked No. 3 with a 5-3 conference record and overall record of 12-4.

The Cortland Red Dragons started off the first period strong. They scored the first goal came just five minutes into the game. Emma Hayes-Hurley (Huntington / Huntington) scored with an assist by Marilyn Farrell (Fayetteville / Fayetteville-Manlius). Less than two minutes later, two more goals were scored. With 23:54 remaining in the period, Maria Di Fato (Camillus/ West Genesee)scored on an assist by Erica Geremia (Camillus/ West Genesee). At 23:43 left in the period, Marilyn Farrell netted one from an assist by Geremia.

Geneseo fought back with two goals by Katey Hart (Syracuse/ West Genesee) within two minutes of each other. Hart scored 15:00 into the game. She netted one again with 13:00 remaining on a free position shot.

Cortland scored the final two goals of the period around the 10 minute mark. Marilyn Farrell capitalized on a man-up opportunity for the Red Dragons. Farrell added a goal from an assist by Erica Geremia. Geremia then scored a goal herself with 8:48 remaining on an assist by Maria DiFato. The score at the end of the first period half was 5-2.

The second half brought more activity for both teams. Less than 5 minutes into the game at 25:35, Cortland's DiFato scored on an assist by Taylor Robinson (Manlius/ Fayetteville-Manlius). Geneseo quickly retaliated with a goal by Caroline Buonocore at 24:20. The score was now 6-3, Cortland. Geremia brought on the next offensive Cortland attack with 19:25 left in the game. She added another goal, making it 7-3. With 13:56 remaining, DiFato netted another goal with an assist by Geremia.

Geneseo made it an 8-4 game when Caroline Buonocore (Syracuse / Westhill) nabbed another goal on a free position shot with 9:32 remaining in the game. At 6:47 in the game, Marilyn Farrell assisted Erica Geremia in adding another Cortland goal. Cortland's Taylor Reh (Miller Place / Miller Place) added the next goal, her first for the game from a free position shot with 6:47 remaining. The score was now 10-4, Cortland.

Cortland's goalie, Shauna Hutchinson (Islip Terrace / East Islip) was given a yellow card with 4:54 remaining in the game. Liz Ingalls (Center Point / St. Anthony's) then stepped in to replace Hutchinson at goal. Geneseo's Kylie Caesar (Delmar / Bethlehem) capitalized on the man-up opportunity with a free position shot, scoring for Geneseo. Cortland goalie, Hutchinson stepped back into the game with 4L50 remaining. Emma Hayes-Hurley nabbed her second goal of the game with 2:25 remaining on an assist by Erica Geremia. The last goal of the game came from Cortland Red Dragon Tara Monaghan (Stony Point / North Rockland) with 12 seconds remaining. The final score was 12-5, Cortland.

Cortland goalie Shauna Hutchinson played 59:56 minutes. She allowed four goals and had eight saves. Liz Ingalls stepped in for 4 seconds, allowing one goal.

Julie Bernatzki (Mt. Sinai / Mt. Sinai) was goalie for Geneseo. She played all 60 minutes. She allowed 12 goals and had 12 saves.

With the win, Cortland earns an automatic bid into the NCAA Tournament.

Final game stats can be found here. 

All-Tournament Team:

Laura Grose, Oneonta
Colleen Hathaway, Brockport
Kaila Maguire, Brockport
Casey Chiesa, Fredonia
Jenna Cuddeback, Fredonia
Emily Haggerty, Geneseo
Jenna Theofield, Geneseo
Julie Bernatzky, Geneseo
Erica Geremia, Cortland
Maria Di Fato, Cortland
Marilyn Farrell, Cortland
Shauna Hutchinson, Cortland

Jessica Lavelle, Cortland (MVP)