SUNY Cortland Sport Clubs

October 4, 2009
Cortland, NY

The men’s club lacrosse team started off it’s back to back national championship defense with a victory over the Oneonta Red Dragons. Cortland dominated the possessions with excellent play from Aaron Zajac at the faceoff circle. The attack got the scoring started with solid play from John Grosse and Brian Ciera. The midfield added a huge spark with Aaron Zajac’s 3 goals and 1 assist, Kevin Kowen’s 1 goal and 2 assists, Brendan Grace’s 2 goals and 3 assists, and Steve Personale’s 2 goals and 1 assist. Attackman John Grosse also added 2 assists and 2 goals. The defense had a little trouble in the middle of the game but Chris Baioco and Brian Pesnar held the team together with Max Wade in goal. The final score was 11-7. Cortland is expected to play at home this weekend against Ithaca so come out and support the back to back NCLL champions!

The Men’s Lacrosse club will be holding an organizational meeting on Thursday, September 3 at 6:00pm by Poolside in Park Center. Please bring something to write with, as well as your health insurance cards or other proof of medical insurance with policy numbers, group numbers, etc. Proof of medical insurance is mandatory prior to participation with any sport club.

If you are interested, but cannot attend the meeting, please contact Steve Personale at personale88@cortland.edu.  

Sport club meeting dates will be posted once they are confirmed. For more information about all of the sport clubs, including organizational meetings for other clubs, please go to the SUNY Cortland Sport Club website: blog.cortland.edu/sportclubs

May 3, 2009
Charlottesville, VA

For the second straight year, the SUNY Cortland men’s lacrosse club has won the NCLL D-II National Championship. And for the second straight year, Cortland had to defeat Lynchburg College in the playoffs. The Red Dragons won four playoff games en route to the championship, defeating Canisius College at home before heading down to Charlottesville, VA and the campus of the University of Virginia for the final three contests.

On Saturday afternoon, Cortland scored early and often as they defeated the College of New Jersey easily, 20-6. Later that evening, the club secured a berth in the championship game with a narrow 12-9 victory over Slippery Rock University. The wins advanced Cortland to the championship game where they met Lynchburg in a rematch of the 2008 semi-final match, which Cortland won 11-9.

Fueled by three goals from Cortland’s Kevin Keown, the club jumped out to an early lead. Lycnhburg would rally late, but Cortland used exceptional performances by Brendan Grace (2 G, 2 A) and attackman John Grosse to stem the rally and secure the victory. Final score: Cortland 12, Lynchburg 9.

Six Cortland players were selected to the NCLL D-II All-Tournament team. They are: John Grosse, attack; Aaron Zajac, midfield; Brendan Grace, midfield; Kevin Keown, midfield; Brian Pesner, defense; and Chris Baicco, defense. Additionally, Brendan Grace was selected as the NCLL D-II Final Four MVP.

The D-II championship is Cortland’s second consecutive title and third in the last four years. Including playoffs, Cortland finished the spring season with a perfect 10-0 record. Congratulations to the SUNY Cortland men’s lacrosse club on another impressive season!

March 29, 2009
Cortland, NY

The SUNY Cortland men’s lacrosse club earned three hard-fought victories this past weekend over Syracuse, Colgate, and Binghamton to improve their spring record to 4-0. Cortland played host to all three teams in a mini-tournament played on Stadium White. In the first game, Cortland’s Kevin Keown scored twice in the first two and a half minutes to help Cortland jump out to an early 2-0 lead. Cortland erupted in the second quarter, pouring in 6 goals against Syracuse, including goals by Steve Personale, John Grosse, Aaron Zajac, and Brendan Grace’s second of the game to take a 9-2 lead into halftime. Syracuse rallied briefly in the fourth quarter, but Cortland goaltender Pat Cameron played well in net and halted any thoughts of a Syracuse comeback. Cameron made 7 saves in the contest. Final score: Cortland 13, Syracuse 7.

In the second game of the day, Cortland used two goals apiece by Keown and Zajac to build a 6-1 lead over Colgate at halftime. In the second half, Cortland keeper Max Wade backstopped the Red Dragons to an 8-5 win, making 11 saves against the Red Raiders. John Grosse, Chris Daly, Brian Sciera, and Brendan Grace added the other four goals for Cortland, while Zajac, Personale, Grosse, Sciera and Kevin Kelley earned assists on 5 of the Cortland goals.

In the final game of the afternoon against Binghamton, the story was all about Brian Sciera. Sciera scored 4 of the 5 Cortland goals, including the game’s first goal 20 seconds into the contest, and the eventual game-winner, a shot that came from behind the Binghamton goalie near the right sideline that banked off of his back and into the net. Cortland’s defense, lead by the aggressive play of Pat Sullivan, held the Bearcats scoreless until 6:48 remained in the fourth quarter. Max Wade recorded 5 saves to help Cortland earn a 5-1 victory and a 3-0 record on the day.

Cortland returns to home action again this Sunday on Stadium White. Games will begin at 10am. Check back soon for schedule updates and contest results as Cortland attempts to defend their D-II NCLL crown!

October 26, 2008
Cortland, NY

The Cortland Men’s Lacrosse club hosted a tournament this weekend with Cornell, Ithaca, and the University of Buffalo all in attendance. Each team played three games consecutively. The day started off well for Cortland, as they opened with a 9-5 victory over Ithaca. John Grosse, Brendan Grace, Chris Daly, Aaron Zajac, Jesse Wenk, and John Cooney all scored for the Red Dragons.

Though Cortland struggled defensively in the second game over Buffalo, they played hard in the last game over Cornell. Cortland had the game tied 7-7, until the last three seconds of the game. Cornell scored to steal a last-second victory over the Red Dragons, 8-7. Overall, the game was very exciting up until the last second.

The club’s fall season is over, but they look forward to defending their NCLL Division-II National Championship in the spring.