UTICA, N.Y. – The SUNYIT Men's Soccer team opened Wildcat Stadium with a bang on Saturday, beating Lancaster Bible College 4-1 in Game One of the NEAC Championship Tournament Semifinals. The Wildcats exploded out of the gate, scoring three goals in the first 20 minutes of the game.

"Obviously there was some adrenaline involved with the opening of the new stadium," said SUNYIT Head Coach and 2011 NEAC Coach of the Year Peterson Jerome, "and that really played to our advantage early on."

Leading the attack for the Wildcats was 6-3 junior Joe Pfaffenberger (Chester, N.Y. / Warwick Valley). The big forward continued his breakout play on the year, scoring the first of two goals on the day on a scramble for the ball in front of the Lancaster goal. Somehow the ball found Pfaffenberger's foot, and the Wildcats were up 1-0.

Barely 12 minutes later the Wildcats were at it again, as All-Conference midfielder Matthew Owusu (Brooklyn, N.Y. / Tilden) converted on a cross-cage pass from veteran forward Nico Facey (Sr., New York, N.Y. / George West).

Blink and you would've missed the next goal, as just under five minutes later senior Trevor Totman (Dryden, N.Y. / Tompkins Cortland) drove a penalty kick past Lancaster goalie Jarrod Bergey. Totman's low-left-hand-side kick fooled Bergey, and the 'Cats went into the half up 3-0.

Pfaffenberger picked up his second goal of the game (on Facey's second assist) two minutes into the second half to give the Wildcats a commanding 4-0 lead, and the Wildcats held on for a 4-1 win.

"We're only halfway there," cautioned Coach Jerome, "Obviously we had a great day today, but the guys know our job is only half done; we're excited for a chance tomorrow to come out and compete for the NEAC Championship against a very talented Penn St.-Harrisburg team."

The Chargers were able to get on the board late, as Keith Keltner found the net with 15:50 to go in the game. The 20-yarder sailed just over the hands of stingy Wildcat keeper Malick Faye (Bronx, N.Y. / MLK), this season's Goalkeeper and Player of the Year. Faye finished the game with 10 saves. On the other side, Bergey put up a good fight with 12 saves on 25 total shots.

First-ranked SUNYIT will play tomorrow in the championship game at 1:00 pm vs. #3 Penn St.-Harrisburg, who beat #2 Cazenovia in the day's second game, 1-0 in overtime.

Don't forget to set your clocks back!