Box Score
CORTLAND, N.Y. – For the first time in program history, the second-seeded State University of New York at New Paltz women’s soccer team (13-5-2) won the State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) Women’s Soccer Championship Tournament, defeating top-seeded SUNY Cortland (12-5-2), 1-0, in the tournament final Saturday afternoon in Cortland, N.Y. The victorious Hawks also claimed their first-ever berth into the NCAA Division III Women’s Soccer Championship Tournament, as they earned the league’s automatic-qualifying bid by virtue of winning the conference tournament.
On Monday, New Paltz will learn of its first-round opponent. The first and second rounds of the 2011 NCAA Division III Women’s Soccer Championship Tournament will run from Nov. 11-13 at various campus sites across the country.
With the victory, the Hawks also extended their single-season program record for wins to 13.
In addition to winning her first-ever conference title, 15th-year head coach Colleen Bruley captured her 100th career win, becoming the first coach in the history of the program to accomplish that feat. Junior goalkeeper Stephanie Vega was named the Tournament MVP, while senior defender Shannon Cobb, junior forward Samantha Abravanel and junior midfielder Emily Rokitowski joined Vega on the All-Tournament Team.
Junior forward Shelby Kondelka netted the only score on the day at 21:22, heading in a saved shot from senior midfielder Alexa Balestrieri that rebounded off the crossbar.
Vega recorded her second consecutive shutout in postseason play, extending her program record of clean sheets in a single season to 12. Vega amassed five saves on the afternoon, while her Red Dragon counterpart, Pat Monnier, stopped four shots.
Cortland had dictated the pace of play prior to the Kondelka goal, taking four shots and earning two corner kicks in the first 10:01 of play. The Red Dragons were called offside at 13:08, temporarily slowing their offensive output prior to the Hawk goal. Cortland outshot New Paltz in the first half, 11-7.
The New Paltz back line held Cortland to nine shot attempts in the second half, stifling the Red Dragons’ chances at a comeback. Cortland was limited to four shots in the last 11:01 of play, resulting in two Vega saves, a shot wide right by Allie Maguire and a blocked attempt by Jackie De Luise.
Ultimately, the Red Dragons outshot the Hawks, 20-10, while also holding a 4-2 edge in corner kicks. New Paltz’s attack was paced by two shots each from Kondelka, Cobb and junior midfielder Beth Bowling (Islip, N.Y./Islip). De Luise and Stacey Wood led Cortland, each having three shot attempts.
With the win, New Paltz snapped Cortland’s unbeaten streak of 10 games. The Red Dragons went 9-0-1 during that span, and their last loss came against the Hawks on Sept. 23 at the Turf Field.
