Upstate Update - Week 5

By D3soccer.com Contributor

The Upstate Update brings you up to speed on Division III men's soccer in the "Upstate" New York region, home to the SUNYAC, Liberty League, and Empire 8. Several key matches will be recapped each week along with a more in-depth look at a Game of the Week.

Game of the Week #1

Cortland State at Oneonta State

This week two of the hottest teams in the country squared off when Cortland State travelled to face undefeated Oneonta State.

The season thus far

Cortland started the season with two straight losses and a minus-4 goal differential. Since then the Red Dragons have won six consecutive games by a combined score of 13-0. Oneonta are a confident bunch after starting the season with dominating wins against good teams.

Game On

Two goals from Cory Santangelo saw Oneonta take a 2-1 lead into the half before Cortland Junior Robby Reiser leveled things in the 60th minute for the visitors. Two overtime periods could not settle the affair and both teams came away with a well-deserved tie.

Take Away

Cortland (6-2-1/1-0-1) will be in the mix when it gets cold. The first weekend of the season must seem like a decade ago for the Red Dragons who are now in the midst of a seven game unbeaten streak. Oneonta (7-0-2/1-0-1) will see this result as a wake-up call, but will remain upbeat with a nine game unbeaten streak of their own.

Game of the Week #2

Hobart at St. Lawrence

Two historically strong Liberty League teams met on a warm autumn day in Canton, NY. A win would mean having the upper-hand in a competitive league offering only four conference tournament spots. A loss would necessitate batting .500 against Skidmore, RPI, Vassar and Union for a chance at post season play.

The season thus far

Hobart has recovered well after a sloppy start away from home against a very good Brandeis squad. The Statesmen enter the game coming off a convincing 3-1 victory away at Geneseo State. St. Lawrence is a team on the mend after losing an All-American goal keeper and several first-team conference players to injury early in the season. An experienced but depleted Saints squad has done a good job grinding out victories after a rocky adjustment.

Game On

Two goals inside twelve minutes—one by junior back Harry Copeland—saw the Saints take a 2-0 lead into the half. St. Lawrence possessed the ball well against a hard working Hobart side, using its quick passing to produce a gem of a goal by senior Captain Mark Provost in the 72nd minute (watch here). Hobart got a well-deserved goal in the 90th minute to deny Sean Houston a shutout.

Take Away

Hobart (5-3-0/0-1-0) will try to find positives heading into its game against rival Vassar. Both teams will be hungry for a win in the league where nothing is free despite the name. St. Lawrence (7-2-0/1-0-0) meanwhile can expect no compassion from a quality Union and RPI who they must face on the road in a few days.

Around the Region

RIT 2, Clarkson 1 - Clarkson (5-5-1/0-1-0) will see this as one they let slip away having surrendered a 1-goal lead at home while RIT (3-5-1/1-0-0) looks to gain some R-E-S-P-E-C-T and a playoff spot.

Union 8, Bard 0 - Bard (5-4-0/0-1-0) freshmen and sophomores will have a few league victories before they are done, but for now these are growing pains. After a disappointing 2013, Union (4-3-1/1-0-0) understands that league success is really all that counts.

Vassar 2, Skidmore 1 - Great start to the league campaign for Vassar (7-3-1/1-0-0). Skidmore (5-4-1/0-2-0) will look to avoid an almost insurmountable 0-3 start when it plays Clarkson next in league competition.

Lycoming 2, Rochester 1 - Lycoming (8-0-2) is for real; Rochester (5-2-2) continues its up and down season.

Brockport State 2, Fredonia State 2 (2OT) - Brockport (5-0-4/1-0-1) refuses to lose! Fredonia (6-1-1/1-0-1) keeps pace in the SUNYAC.

Alfred 5, Nazareth 4 - A good old fashioned upstate shootout. Alfred (5-4-0/1-1-0) exceeds their 2013 win total and is well on their way to their best season since at least 2006. If the Saxons can claim another Empire 8 victory it would be the most since going 3-3-0 in 2006. Nazareth (2-6-0/0-2-0) has three non-conference games to turn things around before a must-win.conference game against St. John Fisher.

Teams of the Week

Cortland State and Brockport State

The SUNYAC continues to impress with the streaking Cortland State (6-2-1) and the undefeated Brockport State (5-0-4).