Junior Maura Martin's goal on a direct kick tied the game in the 88th minute
11/6/2009
ONEONTA, N.Y. – Junior defender Maura Martin (Chili/Gates-Chili) tied the game with two minutes, 54 seconds left in regulation and sixth-seeded Cortland advanced past second-seeded Fredonia on penalty kicks after a 1-1 tie in the SUNYAC tournament semifinals at SUNY Oneonta.
The Red Dragons (12-4-3) will face fifth-seeded Geneseo in the title game of the six-team tournament Saturday at 1 p.m. in Oneonta. Geneseo upset top-seeded Oneonta, 1-0, in Friday’s first semifinal game.
Cortland won the penalty kicks, 3-0, versus Fredonia (11-5-3) after the teams played two scoreless 10-minute overtime periods. Cortland’s first penalty kick was stopped by Fredonia goalie Meaghan Meszaros, but the Red Dragons converted their next three attempts on shots by junior Laura Boucher (Delmar/Bethlehem), freshman Stacey Wood (New Hyde Park) and sophomore Jordan Miller (Liverpool).
Red Dragon junior goalie Pam Monnier (East Northport/Northport) saved all three penalty kicks that she faced, including a nice diving stop to her right on Fredonia’s first attempt. Monnier officially finished with two saves during regulation and the overtime periods, while Meszaros made 11 saves (penalty kick saves and goals do not count toward official stats).
Cortland outshot Fredonia, 23-5, but the Blue Devils took a 1-0 lead on an Emily Beh goal in the 67th minute. Melissa Cummiskey crossed a pass from the left side to Beh in front of the net for the go-ahead goal.
That goal appeared to be enough before Cortland was awarded a direct kick after a player was dragged down just outside the top of the Fredonia box. Martin took the kick and lifted a shot over a wall of Blue Devil defenders and just under the crossbar to knot the game.
Cortland took eight shots in the overtime to Fredonia’s two. Sophomore Bridgette DeSantis (Schenectady/Mohonasen) almost ended the game in the first overtime when her shot from the left side ricocheted off the crossbar. The Red Dragons also had a shot just go wide off a corner kick just as the second overtime expired.
Cortland is searching for its first SUNYAC championship since 1991. The Red Dragons have been to the SUNYAC finals three previous times under sixth-year head coach Heidi Woodcock, losing to Oneonta in 2004, 2005 and 2007. Saturday’s SUNYAC champion will earn an automatic berth into the NCAA Division III tournament. Cortland’s last NCAA appearance was in 1998.
Cortland 1, Fredonia St. 1 (2OT)
Scoring Summary (Goals-Assists):
Cortland: Maura Martin 1-0
Fredonia St.: Emily Beh 1-0, Melissa Cummiskey 0-1
Halftime: Cortland 0, Fredonia St. 0
End of Regulation: Cortland 1, Fredonia St. 1
Shots: Cortland 23, Fredonia St. 5
Corner Kicks: Cortland 7, Fredonia St. 3
Fouls: Cortland 12, Fredonia St. 5
Saves: Pam Monnier (Cortland) 2 (1 GA in 110:00); Meaghan Meszaros (Fredonia St.) 11 (1 GA in 110:00)
Record after game: Cortland (Red Dragons) 12-4-3; Fredonia St. (Blue Devils) 11-5-3