Women's soccer drops opener

The Brockport women's soccer team had their hopes of becoming 2009 SUNYAC champions spoiled this past weekend, as the No. 3 seeded Golden Eagles were upset 1-0 by No. 6 seeded Cortland.Despite the loss, Brockport head coach Joan Schockow felt her team's effort was there and the only problem was her team's inability to manufacture a goal when they needed it.


"They didn't do anything to take us out of our game," Schockow said. "We outplayed them our only problem was we didn't finish."


Coming off the heels of a solid 6-0 victory over SUNY Cobleskill, the Golden Eagles appeared to be a team ready to make a run for the SUNYAC title.

Brockport only lost two SUNYAC games all season, one being a 1-0 loss to Cortland and, most recently, a 2-0 defeat to Buffalo State.


Playoff atmosphere was clear from the start in this one, with layers of green and yellow lined up on all sides of the field hockey field.

The game was scoreless for much of the first half, until Cortland player Carly Williams netted the game's first goal on a cross shot from the corner with only 16 seconds left in the opening half to put Cortland up 1-0. The goal was unassisted.


Facing a narrow deficit, Brockport's offense picked up the intensity in the second. The Golden Eagles outshot Cortland 10-7 in the final half, but despite their diligent efforts, the team failed to score the tying goal.


Fans could only watch with a set of diverse emotions, ranging from nervous excitement as potential game-tying shots from Brockport sailed just wide, just high, or just stopped by the Red goalie.


The Golden Eagles continued to show their "never-say-die" attitude, as expected. However, the fans deserved a tip of the cap as well, as the perpetual rings coming from the crowd only got more intense as the game went on.


The best scoring opportunities for Brockport came late in the second half when senior Rachel Murphy was awarded two direct kicks in the half.


Muphy's first shot was a dart that missed the top crossbar by a few inches.

Murphy would get her second chance with 18 seconds remaining in the second half, and the senior put up another good ball that just missed the goal which ensured the Cortland win.


Despite the upset, the Golden Eagles have a reason to be optimistic about the upcoming ECAC's. The 2008 squad won ECAC Division III upstate women's soccer tournament last year, and hopes of repeating are on the Golden Eagles minds.

The schedule for the 2009 event will be posted on the Brockport's web site, www.brockport.edu/athletics after this weekend's SUNYAC championship finale this weekend.