GENESEO, N.Y. - Sophomore
Megan O'Brien (Holmes/Carmel) and senior
Jillian Vogl (Cazenovia) scored goals in the final three minutes as Cortland rallied to defeat host Geneseo, 2-1, to clinch the top seed in the SUNYAC regular-season standings.
Cortland improved to 10-3 overall and 5-0 in the SUNYAC. The Red Dragons can do no worse than finish in a tie for first with New Paltz, and the Red Dragons hold the head-to-head tiebreaker on the Hawks. Cortland will host the fourth seed in the SUNYAC tournament semifinals Nov. 4, and if victorious would host the championship game Nov. 7.
Geneseo (7-7, 3-2 SUNYAC) grabbed a 1-0 lead just 2:13 into the contest when Diana Rugiero scored on a penalty corner play, assisted by Elena Hingston. The Knights held Cortland to just one shot in the first half and led 1-0 at the break.
Geneseo' Maria Premo helped preserve the lead with a defensive save in the 53rd minute, and Knights' goalie Dayna Mercer made three of her four saves in the second half. However, the Red Dragons finally broke through with 2:56 left when O'Brien found the cage on a shot from the middle of the circle during a penalty corner.
With the game heading to a possible overtime, Vogl intercepted a clearing pass and scored the winning goal on a shot from the top of the circle with 29 seconds left.
Freshman goalie
Kailynne Reinoehl (Lititz, PA/Warwick) made seven saves, six in the second half, for the Red Dragons. Cortland won despite Geneseo holding advantages in shots, 15-9, and penalty corners, 11-6.
Cortland will play at nationally sixth-ranked William Smith Saturday at 2 p.m.
Cortland 2, Geneseo 1
Scoring Summary (Goals-Assists):
Cortland:
Megan O'Brien 1-0,
Jillian Vogl 1-0
Geneseo: Diana Ruggiero 1-0, Elena Hingston 0-1
Halftime: Geneseo 1, Cortland 0
Shots: Geneseo 15, Cortland 9
Penalty Corners: Geneseo 11, Cortland 6
Saves:
Kailynne Reinoehl (Cortland) 7 (1 GA in 70:00), Dayna Mercer (Geneseo) 4 (2 GA in 70:00)
Records after game: Cortland (Red Dragons) 10-3, 5-0 SUNYAC; Geneseo (Knights) 7-7, 3-2 SUNYAC
