MARCY, N.Y. - The SUNY Poly Wildcat men's soccer team took down the SUNY Cobleskill Fighting Tigers on Saturday in the quarterfinal round of the North Atlantic Conference (NAC) Championship Tournament. The Wildcats won the game handily, 6-1, scoring two goals in the first half and four in the second half. The Wildcats will now advance to the West Division Championship game on Sunday, October 30th at SUNY Poly. SUNY Poly will face SUNY Delhi, the winners of the second West Division quarterfinal game.

THE GOALS:

Festus Alonge scored the Wildcat's first goal in the 30th minute. Abus Mohamed-Ali started the scoring opportunity for the Wildcats by beating two defenders on the left side of the box. Abus placed a great pass to Alonge, who was trailing the play in the middle of the box. Alonge hit a hard and low left-footed shot to the lower left to beat the Cobleskill Keeper.

Alonge would score again for the Wildcats 12 minutes later on almost the exact same play. This time Cole Wright was the passer, finding Alonge from the left side of the box in the middle. Alonge hit another low left-footed shot to the left post to beat the keeper.

Cobleskill got on the board in the 48th minute when a SUNY Poly handball in the box gave the Tigers a penalty kick opportunity. Spencer Reisman took the PK and scored with a hard shot to the top right corner. 

Dominick Spychalski scored the third goal of the game for the Wildcats in the 55th minute. Edward Greene played a fantastic ball over the top of the defense that found Spychalski with a full head of steam. Spychalski took a few dribbles and beat the keeper low for his fourth goal of the season.

Spychalski would strike again just two minutes later with his second goal of the game. Jephte Joseph played a pass in from the right that found the right foot of Spychalski who hit another hard, low shot past the keeper for his fifth goal of the year.

The Wildcat's fifth goal was a clinical display of passing. The play started with Abus Mohamed-Ali threading a pass to Edward Greene on the right side of the box. Greene, without hesitation, crossed an extra pass across the box, past multiple defenders to find Xander Novack unmarked on the left side of the goal for what was essentially an open netter. Both Greene and Mohamed-Ali were credited with assists on what was Novack's first career goal.

The Wildcats added one more goal late in the game on a ball in the box off a corner that was deflected by multiple players. Gad Niyomugabo ultimately cleaned up the loose ball, driving a shot to the top right corner for his first career goal.

NOTABLE PERFORMANCES:

• Festus Alonge and Dominick Spychalski each had a pair of goals in the game for the Wildcats. Alonge now has eight points this season. Spychalski has 10 points on the year.
• Xander Novack and Gad Niyomugabo both recorded their first career goals for SUNY Poly in the game. 
• Cobleskill's Spencer Reisman scored the Fighting Tigers' goal in the game. It was on an awarded PK in the 48th minute.
• Edward Greene and Abus Mohamed-Ali each had two assists for the Wildcats.
• Cole Wright and Jephte Joseph each recorded an assist in the game for Poly.
• James D'Alessio made two saves in goal en route to the win. He played 71 minutes for the Wildcats.
• John Gergen was on the losing side of the goalkeeper's decision. He made six saves in 90 minutes played.

UP NEXT:

The Wildcats will take on SUNY Delhi in the NAC West Division Championship game on Sunday, October 30th. The match is scheduled for a 1:00 PM start at SUNY Poly's Wildcat Field. The game will be streamed live on the SUNY Poly Sports Network (SPSN).

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SUNY Poly is New York's globally recognized, high-tech educational ecosystem. SUNY Poly offers undergraduate and graduate degrees in the emerging disciplines of nanoscience and nanoengineering, as well as cutting-edge nanobioscience programs at its Albany campus, and undergraduate and graduate degrees in technology, including engineering, cybersecurity, computer science, and the engineering technologies; professional studies, including business, communication, and nursing; and arts and sciences, including natural sciences, game design, mathematics, humanities, and social sciences at its Utica campus; thriving athletic, recreational, and cultural programs, events, and activities complement the campus experience. As the world's most advanced, university-driven research enterprise, SUNY Poly boasts billions of dollars in high-tech investments and hundreds of corporate partners since its inception. For information visit www.sunypoly.edu.