Semifinals - Saturday, November 1
No. 1 SUNY-Oneonta 5,  No. 4 SUNY-Oswego 2
No. 2 Fredonia State University 1, No. 3 Union College 0 OT

Championship - Saturday, November 12
SUNY Oneonta 0, Fredonia State University 3

Devils claim ECAC title in a shootout
ONEONTA, N.Y. -- Fredonia State claimed the ECAC Upstate New York men's soccer tournament title by prevailing 3-0 over Oneonta in the tie-breaking shootout.

Junior goalkeeper Scott Bergen (Schenectady/Mohonasen) claimed the tournament MVP award after making three saves in regulation and overtime and one save during the shootout. He also authored a 1-0 overtime win over Union College in the semifinal round Saturday.

The Fredonia State bench stormed the field after Oneonta junior Scott DePersis (Johnson City/Johnson City) hit the inside of the cross bar and the ball bounced out on his team's third try in the shootout portion. The Blue Devils (12-7-2) battled Oneonta (16-2-2) to a 1-1 draw through regulation and the two sudden-victory periods before prevailing to claim their first ECAC title since 1999.

Fredonia State made three straight kicks in the shootout before DePersis's miss that would have forced a fourth kicker for the Blue Devils to come out. Junior Rob Esposito (Dover Plains/Dover), senior Victor Ianni (Rochester/Gates-Chili), and senior Kevin Swain (Churchville/Churchville-Chili) netted their shots in succession.

Bergen countered by stopping the first shot he faced, followed by an Oneonta miss over the top of the net, and the goal-post ricochet by DePersis.

During regulation play, Oneonta struck first midway through the first half when DePersis headed in a corner kick by junior Keith Manscuk (Rochester/Aquinas). The Blue Devils tied the game six minutes later on an unassisted goal by freshman Ryan O'Donnell (Orchard Park, NY/Orchard Park). O'Donnell created the opportunity for himself by dribbling free from two defenders and taking a shot that actually deflected off the Oneonta keeper and into the goal. It was his team-leading seventh goal of the season.

In addition to Ianni and Swain, defender Jeff Morsch (Fairport/Fairport), forward Matt Mahaffey (Lakeview/Frontier), and midfielder Alex Parker (Pittsford/Pittsford-Mendon) were playing in their final collegiate game.

ONEONTA STATE DEFEATS OSWEGO 5-2
Junior Keith Manscuk collects three goals and two assists

 Oneonta State junior Keith Manscuk (Rochester, NY/Aquinas) had another strong day offensively in leading the Red Dragons to a 5-2 victory over Oswego today in the first semifinal of the ECAC Div. III Upstate New York tournament hosted by Oneonta.  Manscuk scored three goals while adding an assist lift Oneonta (16-2-1) into the championship game scheduled for tomorrow at 1:00 p.m.

 It didn't take Oneonta, and Manscuk, to get on the scoreboard in the first half.  Manscuk's first goal came after he intercepted a pass in the box and then made a move that turned an Oswego defender that freed up his left foot.  He then sent a shot along the ground that found the far right corner of the goal.

 Manscuk's second goal came six minutes later with an assist from senior Mike Mahoney (New City, NY/Clarkstown North).  Mahoney made a crossing pass inside the box, where Manscuk punched the ball by the keeper to the back of the goal.

 Manscuk completed the natural hat-trick in the 20th minute on a penalty kick to give the Red Dragons a commanding 3-0 lead that they would take into halftime.

 Oswego (11-9-1) came out of the half and cut right into Oneonta's lead with its first goal just over one minute into the second half.  Senior Jason Popovich (Fulton, NY/C.W. Baker) was the recipient of a pass from classmate Mike Davis (Ballston Spa, NY/Ballston Spa).  Popovich finished the play by blasting a ball by the Oneonta keeper.

 Oneonta pushed its lead back to three goals in the 52nd minute when Mahoney and Manscuk teamed up again.  This time it was Manscuk who crossed a ball into the box that Mahoney got his foot on to kick it to the back of the goal.
 The Lakers wouldn't go away quietly as they battled back to 4-2 with a goal in the 63rd minute.  Freshman Andrew Hale (Frewsburgh, NY/Frewsburgh) was able to get his head on a ball that was crossed from the right flank by senior Pat Hurley (Center Moriches, NY).

 Oneonta added one more goal in the final minute of the game when Manscuk sent a ball over the top into the goal area that was collected by senior Ryan Grady (Poughkeepsie, NY/Spackenkill).  Grady then went 1-on-1 with the Oswego keeper and put it by him for the final margin of victory.

FREDONIA DEFEATS UNION 1-0 IN OVERTIME

Sophomore Chris Huber (Horseheads, NY/Horseheads) fired a rocket from the top of the box that found the upper right corner of the goal in the fifth minute of the first overtime period to lift Fredonia (12-7-1) to a 1-0 victory against Union (9-6-3) this afternoon in the second semifinal game of the ECAC Upstate New York tournament hosted by Oneonta State.  Huber collected a pass that was headed back into the box by classmate Jeff Moretti (Rochester, NY/Pittsford Mendon).  Huber was able to shield the defender before turning and firing a shot that sailed like a knuckleball into the back of the goal.

The win for the Blue Devils advances then into tomorrow's championship game against Oneonta State at 1:00 p.m., who won its semifinal earlier today against Oswego 5-2.

The two teams battled to a scoreless tie through 90 minutes.  Union out shot Fredonia 8-2 in the first half, but was unable to get a solid chance on goal.  Blue Devils' keeper Scott Bergen (Schenectady, NY/Mohonasen) made five saves in the first half.

In the second half it was Fredonia who held a 7-2 advantage in shots.  In the second half Union keeper Rob Kramer (Westport, CT) made three saves to keep the game scoreless.