BROCKPORT, N.Y. - Despite a rainy, cold day in Brockport, N.Y. on Friday, the State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) saw two teams earn a spot in this year's conference championship. On Saturday, the SUNYAC Women's Lacrosse Champioship will see top-seeded Brockport host second-seeded Cortland in a clash of two nationally ranked opponents.
On Friday, the No. 4/16 top-seeded Brockport Golden Eagles posted a dominating 14-3 victory over the fifth-seeded Oneonta Red Dragons. Although the Golden Eagles found themselves down 1-0 early in the match, they made light work of the deficit and scored six unaswered goals heading into halftime. Led by senior captain Kelly Wall (3g, 2a), the Golden Eagles had strong performances by junior Jessica Boddery (4g, 0a), sophomore Heather Conklin (3g, 1a), and Andrea Zlinsky (3g, 0a). Junior goal keeper Sara Shaddock stood tall with 6 saves on the day.
The Oneonta Red Dragons end their 2017 campaign at 9-7, while the Brockport Golden Eagles continue their impressive season advancing to 14-1 and a spot in the 2017 SUNYAC Women's Lacrosse Championship.
In the second semifinal game held on the campus of Brockport, the No. 5/19 and second-seeded Cortland Red Dragons rolled past the Geneseo Knights, posting a 18-6 triumph. The contest saw the teams go back and forth, even at three a piece, but Cortland broke through the stalemate going on a dominating 12-0 run. The Red Dragons saw notable performances by senior Kristen Ohberg (2g, 5a), sophomore Carly Stone (5g, 1a), senior Mackenzie Annable (4g, 1a), and Lexie Meager (2g, 3a). The third-seeded Knights end their season 9-9, while the Red Dragons improved to 13-4 and find themselves once again competing for a SUNYAC Championship.
In a rematch from the 2016 SUNYAC Championship, which saw Cortland edge Brockport 16-11, these two nationally ranked teams look ready to rumble in a must-see showdown. In their 2017 regular season matchup, the Golden Eagles avenged that loss (16-11) and ended Cortland's 63-game regular-season conference winning streak.
The 2017 SUNYAC Women's Lacrosse Championship is scheduled to begin at 1 p.m. on Saturday, May 6. Dating back to 1997, the Red Dragons have claimed the SUNYAC title 19 of the past 20 years and Head Coach Kelly Lickert-Orr and co. plan to claim another. While history is on the Red Dragon's side, Head Coach Steve Wagner and the Golden Eagles will have the opportunity to claim the program's first ever SUNYAC title and a chance to claim an automatic bid for the upcoming NCAA Tournament.
