MARCY, N.Y. – The SUNY Polytechnic Men's Soccer Team (6-10-2, 4-5-1 NEAC) snapped a 5-game losing streak with an impressive home win over Cazenovia (6-10, 4-6 NEAC) on Saturday, 3-2. 

Prior to the game the Wildcats honored several influential seniors. Among them were Steven Delizin (Lake Worth, Fla. / Southwestern Coll.), a transfer student who saw substantial minutes for SUNY Poly this season, and Brett Gruener (Ballston Spa, N.Y. / Ballston Spa) – a two-year player who made the All-NEAC 1^st Team last year as part of SUNY Poly's NEAC Championship-winning defense. An excellent student, Gruener was also one of three SUNY Poly recipients of the SUNY Chancellor's Scholar-Athlete Award last year.

Also honored were SUNY Poly's three 4-year seniors: Matthew Wilday (Broadalbin, N.Y. / Galway), Matt Arcidiacono (Oneonta, N.Y. / Oneonta), and Ben Toach (New Hartford, N.Y. / New Hartford). All three players made at least 35 starts for the Wildcats during their careers, and played significant roles in two NEAC Championships for the Wildcats (2011 and 2013).

But of course – as fate would have it – it was a youngster who stole the show on Saturday, as Wildcat sophomore midfielder Nick McBride (Rotterdam, N.Y. / Mohonassen) recorded his first career hat trick, scoring all three goals for SUNY Poly.

Coincidentally McBride's feat was the first SUNY Polytechnic hat trick since Diego Montaleza '14 did it last season on November 9^th – a 6-1 win for the Wildcats that was also against Cazenovia.

All three McBride goals were unassisted, with the speedy midfielder striking once in the 13^th and again in the 21^st minute of play to give SUNY Poly a 2-0 lead.

Cazenovia would not be put away so easily, however, responding with a score 11 minutes later by Kyle Severance. The visitors then made an improbable play near the end of the half, as two long passes lead to a header by Ryan Hanehan that a diving Jesse Yanarella (Wappingers Falls, N.Y. / Ketchum) was unable to reach. That play tied the game at two in the 43^rd minute.

Any chance of a momentum-change was dashed soon after the start of the second half, as after surrendering a 2-0 lead SUNY Poly got right back to work, scoring what would ultimately be the game-winner just 1 minute and 57 seconds into the second half. Again it was McBride finding the back of the net, his team-leading 6^th score of the season.

To SUNY Poly's credit, the defense was able to clamp down for the remainder of the second half despite an increasingly physical game that ended up seeing multiple yellow cards.

Yanarella made 6 saves for the Wildcats in earning the victory, and SUNY Poly out shot their opponent 23 to 13 for the day.

The Wildcats, who were eliminated from playoff contention by a Penn St.-Abington victory over Bryn Athyn on Saturday, have one game remaining on their schedule. They travel to Elmira this Wednesday, October 29^th, for a 3:00 pm matchup.