ROCHESTER, N.Y. – The SUNYIT Men's Soccer Team (16-2-2, 7-1 NEAC) fell to the #12-ranked University of Rochester Yellowjackets on Saturday in the First Round of the NCAA Tournament, 2-0.
The Wildcats put up a great fight against a top-notch opponent, but the Yellowjackets stung SUNYIT once in the first half and once late in the second to take the victory.
The Yellowjackets, as expected, came out strong, lacing a header off the crossbar just minutes into the contest as Jeff Greblick barely missed putting the home team on the board early.
The 'Cats, as they'd done all year however, held strong on defense, surviving multiple crosses by the University of Rochester. The Yellowjacket strikers seemed to have a knack for getting off good crosses without much space in either corner, and ultimately that skill would hurt SUNYIT.
In the 22nd minute, senior midfielder Max Fan scored the game's first goal. Fan came up with a header to the top left corner. There was nothing Wildcat goalkeeper Malick Faye (Bronx, N.Y. / MLK) could do, as Jeff Greblick delivered the assist on a big right-wing cross.
Even in defeat, Faye wowed with his athleticism and kicking ability. Faye made three saves on the night, including a great stop in the first half where he came way out of the goal to defend a one-on-one, knocking the ball from the would-be scorer to avoid a sure goal.
Diego Montaleza (New York, N.Y. / MLK) delivered SUNYIT's best chance of the first half with a great drive on a deep free kick (30 yards out). The kick made it all the way to the goal, and the Yellowjacket keeper had to jump at the last second to block the shot over the crossbar.
The Yellowjackets wound up out shooting the Wildcats 14 to 7 on the day, but only held a 7 to 5 advantage in the second half. SUNYIT's best opportunity came in the 73rd minute – Kurreem Williams (Mt. Vernon, N.Y. / TCI) made a tremendous play down the left side, beating his defender and navigating his way through a slide-tackle attempt. Williams then found himself almost all alone on the left side of the goal, and delivered a great pass to center the ball several yards outside the goalie box. Junior Matthew Wilday (Broadalbin, N.Y. / Galway) was there and put a good foot on the pass, but the shot sailed just wide to the left of the goal.
Williams played an outstanding game, going toe-to-toe with the talented University of Rochester midfield.
"We knew it was going to be a great game – we knew it was going to be a battle" said Wildcat Coach Peterson Jerome, "They have size and they're athletic…but we've been a midfield team all year; we won 16 games doing that, we weren't going to come here and change what we're doing just because we're playing University of Rochester."
As often happens late in games, the Yellowjackets scored one with just over a minute remaining as the Wildcats were throwing everything they had at the home team to try and even the score. Despite the loss, Coach Jerome was proud of his team's effort and of what a close game it was.
When asked what pleased him most about his team's performance on the night, Coach Jerome responded: "There's no question: our intensity. I know the crowd had a lot to do with it – our fans made a great trip out here; I know we lost the game, but I feel like we didn't disappoint them…they came and they saw the SUNYIT that they're used to seeing…we wear our hearts on our sleeves and we came out and we played hard from the word 'go'."
"I'm sure we'll sit down at some point and talk about what the last few years have been like," continued Jerome, "but right now I'm not to that place yet…those kids [the Wildcat seniors] have been great, they've put everything they had into this program over the last 4 years, I couldn't ask for a better group of guys to go on that ride with, and it's been a great ride…right now it's not really settling with them, but I'm sure down the road I'll be able to sit down with them and have some laughs and they'll understand how great this ride has truly been."
