CORTLAND, N.Y. – Junior Matt Williams (Cobleskill/Cobleskill-Richmondville) scored the game's lone goal three minutes, 35 seconds before the half as the second-seeded Cortland men's soccer team defeated third-seeded The College at Brockport, 1-0, Wednesday afternoon in the SUNYAC Semifinals at Jets Field. With the win, the Red Dragons improved to 11-6-1 on the season and will host fourth-seeded Plattsburgh Saturday at 11 a.m. in the SUNYAC Finals. The Cardinals defeated top-seeded Oneonta, 1-0, also on Wednesday.

Sophomore Dillon Johnson (Northport) recorded the assist on Williams' goal. Junior goalie Tim Beauvais (Hilton) made five saves in posting his seventh shutout of the season for Cortland. Sophomore goalie Casey Sullivan (East Syracuse/East Syracuse Minoa) registered three saves for the Golden Eagles (11-2-5).

From the opening whistle, the game featured physical play on both sides. Brockport had the first good chance to score in the 24th minute after a Cortland foul. Sophomore Matthew Roorda (Rochester/Aquinas Institute) served a free kick into the box that senior Ryan Phillips (Hamlin/Brockport) headed just wide left.

Williams scored the game-winner in the 42nd minute. After Sullivan misplayed a ball in the box, Johnson tipped a pass to the right where Williams one-timed a shot into the empty goal for his third score of the season. The Red Dragons nearly made it a 2-0 game about one minute later. With Sullivan out past the top of the box after he charged out to try to win a 50-50 ball, Cortland sophomore Robby Reiser (Melville/Half Hollow Hills East) sent a shot from 50 yards out into the wind that just drifted wide right.

Pressing for the tying goal, the Golden Eagles nearly evened the game in the 80th minute. Roorda bent a corner kick into the box, and senior Bobby Ross (Grand Island) sent a header that was labeled for just under the crossbar but Beauvais punched the shot away to preserve the shutout.

Cortland 1, The College at Brockport 0

Scoring Summary (Goals-Assists)
Brockport: no scoring
Cortland: Matt Williams 1-0, Dillon Johnson 0-1

Halftime: Cortland 1, Brockport 0
Shots: Brockport 14, Cortland 12
Corner Kicks: Brockport 6, Cortland 3
Fouls: Brockport 21, Cortland 15
Saves: Casey Sullivan (Brockport) 3 (1 GA in 90:00); Tim Beauvais (Cortland) 5 (0 GA in 90:00)

Records after game: Brockport (Golden Eagles) 11-2-5; Cortland (Red Dragons) 11-6-1