Oneonta clinches both SUNYAC titles

Junior Erica Suter had a hat trick in Johns Hopkins' win on Saturday. Johns Hopkins athletics photo

Saturday marks one of the last weekends in the 2010 regular season; conference tournaments are not far away. We'll review a handful of matches as well as provide some focus on a number of conferences. The complete Weekend Wrap is coming on Sunday evening.

In a top 25 match-up, No. 20 York edged by No. 14 Salisbury 1-0, winning their fifth in a row after an earlier loss to Messiah. The Spartans scored the only goal of the match on a shot by Antonio Bua, which went in off a Salisbury defender, in the 17th minute. In spite of being outshot 16-5, York held on for the win with five saves by Jesse Derksen. York improves to 14-4, and 7-0 in CAC play, while the Sea Gulls slip to 12-2-3, and 6-2.

In a women's key match-up, No. 3 Illinois Wesleyan travelled to No. 5 Augustana and in poor weather conditions, played to a scoreless draw. In the first half, the match was delayed for 75 minutes due to lightning, and due also to heavy rains, each side could only muster two shots. The Titans are now 15-0-1, and 4-0-1 in the CCIW. The Vikings are 12-1-3, and 3-1-1. As a result, No. 7 Wheaton moves into first place with their 3-0 win over Elmhurst. The Thunder will travel to face Illinois Wesleyan on Oct. 27.

In men's SUNYAC play, Oneonta clinched the regular season title with their 2-0 win over Oswego. Also winning today was No. 22 Brockport and Fredonia, but Oneonta wins the tiebreaker with wins over both teams. The Oneonta women also earned the conference title with Saturday's 2-1 road win over Oswego. Junior Dana DeSimone and senior Nha Wright scored for the Red Dragons, also earning a first round bye for the conference tourney. The SUNYAC tournament for both men and women begins on October 30, with the semis and finals on Nov. 5 and 6.

NESCAC results have given Middlebury, Bowdoin, Williams, and Amherst spots in the conference tourney, which begin with the quarterfinal round on Oct. 31. No. 12 Williams edged Tufts 1-0 on Saturday afternoon, giving the Ephs a shot at the title. Senior Gaston Kelly grabbed the game winner late in the first overtime period, helping the Ephs to 10-1-2, and 5-1-2. No. 18 Middlebury fell to Bates 1-0, slipping to 11-2, and 6-2, while No. 25 Bowdoin shut out Trinity (CT) 2-0 on goals by Michael Gale and Eddie Jones. Bowdoin moves to 9-1-2, and 5-1-2. And Amherst, who received votes in the last Top 25 poll, was a 2-1 winner over Wesleyan, improving to 8-1-3, and 4-1-3. The outcomes for the conference champ are numerous at this point, but Middleburry can clinch with a win over Williams on Friday.

No. 5 Stevens blanked Alfred 3-0 to improve to 10-1-3, and 5-0-1. With the win, the Ducks have guaranteed themselves one of the two top seeds in the Empire 8 tournament. Second place Nazareth was a 2-0 victor over Elmira, clinching a berth in the conference tourney, and improving to 8-6-2, and 5-1.

In the Centennial, No. 13 Johns Hopkins was upended by Franklin & Marshall, 2-1. The Blue Jays fall into a tie for fourth place at 3-2-2, and 10-3-3 overall. No. 19 Muhlenberg edged Haverford 1-0, moving to 9-0-6, and 4-0-3, keeping a grip on the top spot with a one point advantage over Swarthmore. Swat plays later in the evening. Gettysburg and Dickinson played to a 2-2 draw, and join Hopkins in fourth place.

SCIAC results include the top team Claremont-Mudd-Scripts getting past La Verne 1-0 on a first goal by Sam Ullman. C-M-S improves to 11-2-2, and 9-1-2. The second place University of Redlands (RV) plays later in the evening, looking to improve on their 8-1-2 and 9-2-2 record. Elsewhere, the Northwest Conference leader, Pacific (RV) was taken down in overtime 2-1 by Whitman, falling to 7-2-1, and 11-2-2.

In the MIAC, second place Carleton was a 1-0 winner over Ripon, improving to 6-2-1, and 10-4-1. On Friday, third place Macalester (RV) was a 4-3 overtime winner over St. Thomas, and first place Concordia is in action on Sunday.

In women's action, No. 10 Rowan needed overtime to get by NJAC opponent Kean 4-3. Marina Mangano scored the key goal in the 109th minute off an assist from Jess Babice, a final conversion of the 31-16 shot advantage enjoyed by the Profs. They remain tied for second place with No. 8 TCNJ at 7-1, and 14-1-1. No. 24 William Paterson sits atop the standings at 7-0-1, and 11-2-4. Earlier, TCNJ was a 4-0 winner over New Jersey City, and WPU blanked Rutgers-Newark 3-0. On Oct. 26, Rowan will face TCNJ in a key NJAC match.

No. 12 Emory defeated Berry College 2-0, improving their one loss record to 12-1-2, and 2-1-1 in the UAA. No. 13 William Smith needed a goal from senior Brelynn Nasypany in overtime to defeat St. Lawrence 2-1 in a Liberty League match. It was the 15th goal of the year for Nasypany. The Herons move to 4-0-2, and 11-2-2 overall.

No. 14 Allegheny dropped their first match of the season in a 2-1 loss to Wittenberg. Kristi Burkitt scored in the 82nd minute for the come-from-behind win. Allegheny slips to 3-1-2 in the NCAC, and 12-1-3. Witt improves to 5-1, and 13-3-1. With Wooster's loss to Kenyon, Wittenberg moves into first place in conference play.

No. 18 Ithaca played Nazareth to a scoreless draw but earned a share of the Empire 8 regular season title with a 7-0-1 record. Nazareth will host the women's conference tourney in November, with Ithaca, Stevens and RIT. No. 19 Cal Lutheran moves to 16-1-1, and 8-1-1 in the SCIAC with their 3-0 win over Redlands. The Regals hold the top spot in conference.

No. 20 Centre was upset 2-1 in overtime by SCAC foe DePauw. Centre slides to 7-1, and 14-2, but keeps the top spot in conference. DePauw improves to 6-2 and remains in third place.

No. 23 Eastern Connecticut State played Mass-Dartmouth to a 1-1 draw, staying unbeaten at 13-0-3, and 5-0-1 at the top of the Little East Conference. Western Connecticut is holding down second place at 5-1, 12-4-1 overall, after their 1-0 overtime win over Keene State.