Box Score
The College at Brockport Men's Soccer team used three second half goals en route to a 4-0 victory over State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) opponent Cortland Friday evening at A. Huntley Parker Jr. Field. With the victory, Brockport moves ahead of the Red Dragons and into a first-place tie in the SUNYAC with Plattsburgh. Brockport is 5-1 in the SUNYAC and 7-6 overall on the year.
Kevin Nichols (Stroudsburg, PA/Stroudsburg) scored a goal midway through the first half, a goal that proved to be the game-winner as the Golden Eagles recorded their second consecutive conference shutout, and third on the year.
Shane Hachey (Cicero, NY/Cicero-North Syracuse) put Brockport ahead 2-0 in the second half off of a direct kick from 35 yards out.
Paul Altobelli (Rochester, NY/Gates Chili) and
Ben Grimsley (Mattydale, NY/Cicero- North Syracuse) finished off the scoring for Brockport late in the game.
The Golden Eagles controlled much of the match in a physical contest. Each team was whistled for 19 fouls in the game and a total of five yellow cards were distributed on the day. Brockport put the pressure on Cortland early as the Golden Eagles held a 13-4 first half advantage in shots, including six on net. Freshman
Casey Sullivan (East Syracuse, NY/East Syracuse-Minoa) was not tested through the first 45 minutes, but made five stops in the second half.
Nichols put Brockport ahead at the 26:20 mark of the first half after burying a rebound.
Kevin Dorn (Dix Hills, NY/Half Hallow Hills East) put an initial shot on net but was stopped. Nichols positioned himself in front of the net to bury his second game-winning goal of the year while Dorn was credited with the assist.
The game remained scoreless until Hachey provided a spark off the bench. The 6'1, 223 pound junior stepped up for a direct kick at the 61:04 mark and blasted a shot to the upper right corner of the net, giving the Cortland goalie no chance of making a save. The goal was the first of the season for the junior.
Altobelli's goal came 14 minutes later, also off of a set-piece. The sophomore drove a hard direct kick on the ground that found its way through the Cortland defensive wall and through the hands of Cortland goalie Tim Beauvais to put Brockport up 3-0.
Grimsley provided the final goal of the night at the 83:18 mark. The junior found his way through two defenders on the right side of the field and dribbled into the box and buried his first goal of the season.
The Golden Eagles have three games remaining on the year, all against conference opponents, including Plattsburgh. The Cardinals defeated Fredonia on Friday to move into the first-place tie. After the loss, Cortland drops to third place with a 4-2-1 record.
Brockport hosts Oswego tomorrow afternoon for a 1:00 pm matchup at A. Huntley Parker Jr. Field. The Lakers are currently in fifth in the SUNYAC with a 3-3-1 record.
