CORTLAND, N.Y.—Second-seeded SUNY Cortland (11-4-2) scored twice in the first half to defeat No. 3 SUNY Potsdam (14-4-1) 2-0 in the SUNYAC Semifinals. The Bears outshot the Red Dragons 15-10 and had an 8-5 edge in corners, but were unable to solve Cortland's defense.
Jaden Galluzzo scored both goals for the Red Dragons at 20:47 and 30:59 of the first half. Potsdam outshot Cortland in both halves and was able to sustain pressure over the final 25 minutes of the contest. However, it was not to be.
Bears sophomore goalkeeper
Gabby Hobika (New Hartford, N.Y./New Hartford) made two saves on the day, while Red Dragons keeper Danika Svendsen made four stops for the win.
The 2018 season was the most successful in Bears women's soccer's 32-year history. Potsdam set its single-season overall (14) and conference wins records (6) and established a new mark for winning percentage (.763). The Bears reached the SUNYAC Playoffs for the second season in a row, won their first playoff game and advanced the semifinals for the first time. They matched the program single-season record with 53 goals scored and recorded the second most points in a season with 143 (53g, 37a). They also set a record for goals-against-average, allowing just 0.83 goals-per-game
Individually, Potsdam saw senior midfielder
Brooke Falsion (Brockport, N.Y./Brockport) win the league scoring title with 41 points (17g, 7a) and break the program's scoring record with 109 points (46g, 17a). She also established new program marks in goals (46) and game-winning goals (12).
Senior midfielder
Rylie Murray (Berkley, Mich./Berkley), who already owned the program's assists record entering the season, led the league in assists and finished second in scoring with 29 points (8g, 13a). She worked her way up to the third spot on the Bears' scoring list with 70 points (19g, 32a).
Hobika set the single-season mark for goals-against-average at 0.80 and junior goalie
Delphine Léonard (Anjou, Quebec/Dawson College Prep) was right behind her at 0.86.
In their Class of 2019, Potsdam will say goodbye to the winningest class in program history with 44 victories. In addition to Falsion and Murray, six other Bears will graduate this spring. Defenders
Sarah Erno (Mechanicville, N.Y./Mechanicville) and
Lauren Vedete (New Hartford, N.Y./New Hartford) along with goalie
Karlee Burdick (Painted Post, N.Y./Corning-Painted Post) helped form the deepest and most talented defense ever put on the field by Potsdam.
Rachael Venne (Ellenburg Depot, N.Y./Northern Adirondack) made the transition from midfield to defense over her career and went from creating offense to helping shut it down. Forward
Amber Hyatt (Jamesville, N.Y./Jamesville-DeWitt) closes her career tied for 21st on the program scoring list with 24 points (10g, 14a). Forward
Olivia Seamans (Bolton Landing, N.Y./Bolton), an All-SUNYAC selection in 2015, wraps up her career tied for 15th on the scoring list with 35 points (13g, 9a).
