PLATTSBURGH, N.Y. – Plattsburgh State will serve as the host institution for the 2012 SUNYAC Men’s Soccer Championship Tournament, which is set to begin at 11 a.m. on Friday (Nov. 2) at the Field House Complex.

Ticket prices are $6.00 for general admission, while SUNY students possessing a valid ID will gain free admittance to the games. The quest for the championship will begin at 11 a.m. when No. 1 seed Plattsburgh State hosts No. 4 SUNY Cortland in the first semifinal match before No. 2 seed Oneonta State faces off against No. 6 New Paltz in the other semifinal bout at 1:30 p.m.

The winners of the two semifinal games will meet in the SUNYAC Championship match which is scheduled to begin at 1 p.m. on Saturday (Nov. 3). Any fans that are unable to make it to Plattsburgh can follow the action thanks to live statistical coverage and live video of each game, courtesy of the Plattsburgh State sports information office and Northeast Sports Network. The links for the live stats and live video can be found at the bottom of this release.

SEMIFINAL NO. 1 – NO. 1 PLATTSBURGH STATE VS. NO. 4 SUNY CORTLAND

PLATTSBURGH STATE
Plattsburgh State, who earned No. 1 overall seed in the SUNYAC Championship Tournament after a nail-biting 2-1 double-overtime victory over Brockport in its final regular season SUNYAC contest, has put together yet another fine record under the tutelage of 28^th-year head coach Chris Waterbury. The Cardinals are aiming for their second SUNYAC Championship in the past three seasons, and they boast any number of weapons with which to try and capture it. Six players on the Plattsburgh State roster have compiled 10 or more points this season led by junior midfielder Matt Hamilton who leads the team with 19 points coming off nine goals and an assist.

The Cardinals lead the SUNYAC in nearly major offensive category, and its defensive unit is also arguably the best in the 10-team league. Anchored by senior keeper Andy Heighington, the Cardinals’ stingy defense has allowed just 16 goals in 19 contests. Heighington – who is the all-time shutouts leader for the Cardinals with 33 – exhibits an 11-2-1 record with six clean sheets this season.

SUNY CORTLAND
Just two teams have beaten Plattsburgh State in 2012, and Cortland owns the distinction of being one of those squads. A wild 4-3 overtime decision went the way of the Red Dragons on September 28 after a penalty kick by sophomore Chris McBride figured to be the deciding tally just 1:10 into the extra frame.  McBride leads the offensive attack for the Red Dragons, having netted a team-high seven goals en route to 16 points. It was Chris Barbosa, though, who catapulted Cortland to the second round of the tournament. The reigning SUNYAC Men’s Soccer Offensive Player of the Week pumped in his first two goals of the season to lead Cortland to a 3-1 victory over No. 5 seed SUNY Geneseo on Saturday (Oct. 27).  

Sophomore netminder Tim Beauvais has been a mainstay between the pipes for the Red Dragons, posting an 8-7-1 record as well as five shutouts. He has turned away 87 shots and possesses a 1.41 goals against average.

SEMIFINAL NO. 2 – NO. 2 ONEONTA STATE VS. NO. 6 NEW PALTZ

ONEONTA STATE
Armed with a regular season record of 11-5-1, Oneonta State earned the No. 2 seed in the SUNYAC Championship Tournament – not to mention the benefit of a first-round bye before its title defense gets underway. Balance has been the key to success for the Red Dragons thus far, as 17 players have tallied a goal led by junior forward Luke Halberg who is at the head of the Red Dragons’ line when it comes to goals (six) and points (13). Senior Eric Fortier and freshman Colin Volpe have each amassed 12 points this season and have five and four goals respectively to round out the top scoring contingent for the No. 4-ranked squad in the NCAA East Region.

The Red Dragons were able to walk away as the victors in their regular season confrontation with the Hawks as senior Ian Tenzer registered the sole marker of the contest in the 22^nd minute to give Oneonta State a 1-0 victory. Backstopping the Red Dragons to the victory was Daniel DeBottis who has manufactured a 5-4-1 record with a goals against average of 1.03. The Cicero, N.Y., product has not undergone an extensive goalkeeping test as of late, however, facing just two shots over the past three games. Sharing the goalkeeping assignment for the Red Dragons has been Colin Balkwell who possesses a record of 6-0-0, but has not played since October 10.


NEW PALTZ
Despite barely edging out Oswego State to make it into the 2012 SUNYAC Championship Tournament, New Paltz proved that despite its labeling as a No. 6 seed, it was not to be taken lightly. The Hawks upstaged No. 3 seed Brockport on the road, 1-0, to earn its first ever victory in the SUNYAC postseason to make it to the semifinals, improving their record to 11-7-1 in the process. The No. 6-seeded Hawks have relied heavily on sophomore midfielder Harrison Lane throughout their 2012 campaign. Lane leads the Hawks in both goals (nine) and points (20), and pumped in a career-high four goals in a 5-0 victory over Fredonia State on October 20, ensuring the Hawks a spot in the postseason tournament.

The reigning SUNYAC Men’s Soccer Defensive Player of the Week, Steven Domino has been entrusted with netminder duties for the Hawks for the majority of the season. The sophomore out of Valatie, N.Y., has produced a quartet of clean sheets this season while cobbling together a 7-4-1 mark and owns a 1.15 goals against average as well as a .800 save percentage after turning aside 52 potential goals in 2012.

Live Stats for All Games
Live Video for All Games
2012 SUNYAC Tournament Championship Program