Photo credit: Darl Zehr Photography
CORTLAND, N.Y. – Freshman Cam LaVallee (Schenectady/Schalmont) scored off a pass from senior Tyler Kirschner (Dix Hills/Half Hollow Hills East) in the 73rd minute and nationally sixth-ranked Cortland defeated 22nd-ranked Oneonta, 1-0, in the SUNYAC men's soccer championship game at the SUNY Cortland Stadium Complex.
Cortland won its first SUNYAC title since 2008 and the 18th in program history. The Red Dragons (17-2) set a school record with their 17th win of the season and earned an automatic berth into the NCAA Division III playoffs. Cortland won its 12th consecutive game; its last loss was a 3-0 decision at Oneonta on September 23.
Oneonta, the SUNYAC champion in both 2014 and 2015, fell to 14-6-1 with the loss and will now await a possible NCAA at-large berth.
Cortland will make its 20th NCAA tournament appearance and second in three years. The NCAA tournament selections will be announced on Monday, November 7 at 1 p.m. on NCAA.com. Cortland advanced to the "Sweet 16" in 2014 as an at-large selection.
Cortland junior goalie Connor Young (Bayport/Bayport-Blue Point) made two saves for his fifth straight shutout and 10th overall this season. He was named the SUNYAC tournament MVP and was joined on the all-tournament team by Kirschner, senior Daniel Friend (Deer Park) and senior Nick Tata (Rochester/Aquinas Institute). Also chosen to the all-tournament team were Oneonta's Justin Cebollero, Whitman Hernandez and Austin Hughes, Buffalo State's William Banahene and Brandon Galanti, and Fredonia's Brandon Butts and David Trabold.
Cortland scored the game's lone goal when Kirschner dribbled up the right side and split two defenders with a short crossing pass to LaVallee, who buried a shot inside the right post for his second goal of the season. Kirschner also assisted on Cortland's goal in a 1-0 win over Buffalo State in the SUNYAC semifinals Wednesday.
Oneonta goalie Ryan Wilson made six saves as Cortland outshot the guests, 14-10. Cortland also earned five corner kicks to Oneonta's one.
Cortland 1, Oneonta 0
SUNYAC Finals
Scoring Summary (Goals-Assists):
Oneonta: no scoring
Cortland: Cam LaVallee 1-0, Tyler Kirschner 0-1
Halftime: Cortland 0, Oneonta 0
Shots: Cortland 14, Oneonta 10
Corner Kicks: Cortland 5, Oneonta 1
Fouls: Oneonta 22, Cortland 10
Saves: Ryan Wilson (Oneonta) 6 (1 GA in 90:00, Connor Young (Cortland) 2 (0 GA in 90:00)
Record after game: Cortland (Red Dragons) 17-2 (ranked 6th nationally in Div. III); Oneonta (Red Dragons) 14-6-1 (ranked 22nd nationally in Div. III)
(left to right) Tournament MVP Connor Young and all-tourney selections Tyler Kirschner, Daniel Friend and Nick Tata, along with Oneonta's Justin Cebollero, Austin Hughes and Witman Hernandez.
