Geneseo wins 2017 women's soccer SUNYAC title
Geneseo N.Y. – The championship game of the State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) women's soccer tournament featured the top seed Geneseo Knights and second seed Plattsburgh Cardinals on a brisk fall afternoon in Geneseo.
The pace of the first half started out pretty slow, with both teams trading possessions back and forth. That was until the 10th minute when Geneseo junior, Jennifer Moran (Henrietta, NY) converted off a pass from freshman, Ellie Gregory (Commack, NY) to give the Knights a 1-0 lead early in the game. Just minutes later in the 15th Geneseo had a solid opportunity to extend their lead but Plattsburgh goalkeeper, Nichole Gibson (Akport, NY), made an amazing save to keep her team within one. In the 23rd minute, Plattsburgh committed a foul in the box, awarding a penalty kick to Geneseo. Gibson again came up clutch for her team not once but twice, blocking the penalty kick and the rebound shot that followed. Gibson was tested again on a free kick after a yellow card was handed out to Cardinals' defender Allie Boudreau (Bennington, VT) but was able to again make the save and keep the game within a goals reach. That all changed when Knights' sophomore, Taylor Clar (Scottsville, NY), ripped a shot towards the goal that deflected off a Plattsburgh defender and into the back of the net to extend their lead to 2-0.
The Cardinals would have a chance to respond in the 44th minute after a foul on Geneseo but were unable to convert after the free kick went wide to the right side of the net. Geneseo seemed determined to blow the game open before the half ended as they outshot Plattsburgh in the first half, 11-6, nine of which were on goal. In one last effort late in the first to extend their lead, Geneseo senior, Leah Greene (Cortlandt Manor, NY), blasted a shot towards the top of the net but Gibson came up strong yet again to make an outstanding save by leaping and deflecting the ball over the net and out of play, sending the game into halftime with Geneseo leading the Cardinals 2-0.
Trailing as they entered the second half of play, Plattsburgh started to produce more offense leading to two scoring chances early but saw both shots saved by Geneseo goalkeeper, Emily Janiszewski (Buffalo, NY). Geneseo's offensive leader, Audrey Reid (Hilton, NY), who was contained by the Cardinals in the first half, broke loose and scored two unassisted goals. One in the 63rd minute and again in the 65th minute to seemingly blow the game wide open for the Knights, taking a 4-0 lead. Geneseo would hold on as Janiszewski secured the shutout and the Knights took home the 2017 SUNYAC women's soccer trophy.
The award ceremony was held after the game, starting off with Geneseo junior, Jennifer Moran, being announced as the SUNYAC Elite 20 recipient for women's soccer. This award is modeled after the NCAA Elite 90 program, which honors the student-athlete who has reached the pinnacle of competition at the conference championship level in his or her sport, while also achieving the highest academic standard among his or her peers.
That was followed with the announcement of the 2017 all-tournament team and finally the tournament MVP, which Audrey Reid rightfully earned, especially after taking over the second half, finding the back of the net twice and leading the Knights to their seventh SUNYAC title in program history as well as an automatic birth into the NCAA tournament.
| Name | School | |||
| *Audrey Reid | Geneseo | |||
| Leah Greene | Geneseo | |||
| Jennifer Moran | Geneseo | |||
| Taylor Clar | Geneseo | |||
| Nichole Gibson | Plattsburgh | |||
| Brooke Knight | Plattsburgh | |||
| Sarah Bonner | Plattsburgh | |||
| Alannah O'Shea | Cortland | |||
| Abby Miller | Cortland | |||
| Micaela Honsinger | Oneonta | |||
| Emily Opalinski | Oneonta |
* Tournament MVP
