Men's Soccer | 11/5/2025 10:28:14 PM
No. 1 seed SUNY Geneseo (12-5-3) and No. 2 seed SUNY Brockport (10-4-3) will meet in the 2025 Empire 8 Men's Soccer Championship after advancing in semifinal action on Wednesday, Nov. 5. SUNY Geneseo advanced in penalty kicks, 5-4 over No. 5 Utica University after the two teams played to a 1-1 draw through 110 minutes of play, while SUNY Brockport defeated No. 3 Elmira College by a score of 3-1.
The Empire 8 will crown a new champion in 2025, as both Geneseo and Brockport are in the league championship match for the first time, as both teams entered the conference in 2024.
The Knights of Geneseo will host Brockport from College Stadium at 3 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 8. The winner will receive an automatic berth into the 2025 NCAA Division III Men's Soccer Championship Tournament, which begins on Nov. 15-16.
SUNY Geneseo and SUNY Brockport met in the regular season finale on Oct. 29 from College Stadium with the Golden Eagles earning a 1-0 road win. Max Voyer scored the lone goal for Brockport, while AJ Nelson made five saves to earn the shutout win. Brockport enters Saturday’s game riding a 12-game unbeaten streak (10-0-2), while Geneseo is 8-1-2 over its last 11 games.
NO. 1 SUNY GENESEO 1, NO. 5 UTICA 1 (2 OT - GENESEO ADVANCED ON PK'S, 5-4)
The SUNY Geneseo men's soccer team earned a trip to the Empire 8 Championship game on Wednesday evening, advancing past Utica with a thrilling penalty kick victory. With the score tied 1-1 after overtime, the Knights headed to penalty kicks, where goalkeeper
Max Crothall kept Geneseo's season alive by saving the last two attempts from Utica, As Geneseo outscored the Knights, 5-4 in PK's. '
Geneseo was the first team to get on the board, finding the back of the net in the 32nd minute behind a well placed header from
Jace DiPalo. DiPalo was the first to reach a beautiful cross from
Dylan Thody and snuck the header past the goalkeeper to put the Knights ahead 1-0.
Utica put the pressure on the Knights defense for the remainder of the half, but the Geneseo defense held strong and entered halftime with the 1-0 advantage.The Pioneers continued to build momentum throughout the second half, and ultimately broke through the Knights defense with just over a minute left to play in the game.
Geneseo was out shot in overtime by a margin of 7-3, but the best look of overtime came with under a minute left when
Michael Ruggiero nearly made an incredible play on a cross inside the box to score the game-winner.Thody led off the penalty kicks with a great goal, but Geneseo found themselves trailing by a goal after their second attempt was saved. Made attempts from
Owen Burke,
Eric Carnes, and
Aidan Lodie kept their hopes alive as Utica came down to their fifth shooter with a chance to win it all. However, Crothall stepped up making a huge diving save to his left to extend the penalty kicks to another round.
Charlie Sorensen stepped up to open the sixth round of penalty kicks and drilled the shot down the middle, giving Crothall a chance to win the game. The sophomore goalkeeper did just that, diving to his right to save the final attempt from Utica and sending the Knights to the championship game.
NO. 2 SUNY BROCKPORT 3, NO. 3 ELMIRA 1
The SUNY Brockport men's soccer team will advance to the Empire 8 Tournament Finals after defeating Elmira, 3-1. Brockport will play for the conference championship on Saturday, November 8.
In the first half of this E8 Semifinal matchup, both teams created scoring chances early on. Brockport held the edge, outshooting Elmira 7-5.
This included the first goal of the contest from Brockport freshman,
Ryan Mathis.
Max Voyer created the play with some pressure in the box. Soon after he moved the ball over the
Brady Reinagel, who back tipped the ball to Mathis for the shot.
Mathis' goal, with the assist from Reinagel, put the Green and Gold up 1-0 early in the contest. Neither team would score again in the opening half, making it a one goal lead for Brockport at halftime.
In the second half, Brockport would add to its lead thanks to the work of some familiar faces.
Brady Reinagel would once again connect with
Ryan Mathis, who finished the shot past the Elmira keeper for his second of the day. Mathis tallied his second goal of the game, Reinagel dished out his second assist of the game, and Brockport took a 2-0 lead in the 62nd minute.
The Golden Eagles continued to keep the pressure on, controlling possession of the ball for most the half. However, Elmira got on the board late in the second half to make it a 2-1 score with just over 10 minutes to play in regulation.
While the Soaring Eagles took back some momentum, the Golden Eagles looked for a response. After nearly giving up a second goal to Elmira, Brockport countered for its third score of the game.
Jadin Lyle found the back of the net after
Max Voyer crossed the ball in front. Brockport halted all of Elmira's momentum, taking control with a 3-1 lead in this semifinal match.
Both teams battled in the final minutes, but neither team would add on to the scoreboard the rest of the way. Brockport held on to its lead through the finish line for the 3-1 victory.
AJ Nelson played the full game in net for the Golden Eagles, picking up the win in the E8 Semifinals.
2025 Empire 8 Men's Soccer Championship Tournament Schedule
Saturday, November 1 – First Round
No. 1 SUNY Geneseo defeated No. 8 Hartwick, 1-0 – BOX SCORE
No. 2 SUNY Brockport defeated No. 7 Russell Sage, 4-0 – BOX SCORE
No. 3 Elmira defeated No. 6 Nazareth, 1-0 – BOX SCORE
No. 5 Utica defeated No. 4 St. John Fisher, 5-1 – BOX SCORE
Wednesday, November 5 – Semifinals (at Higher Seed)
No. 1 SUNY Geneseo and No. 5 Utica tied 1-1 (Geneseo advanced on PK's 5-4) – BOX SCORE
No. 2 SUNY Brockport defeated No. 3 Elmira, 3-1 – BOX SCORE
Saturday, November 8 - Championship Final
No. 2 SUNY Brockport at No. 1 SUNY Geneseo – 3 p.m. – VIDEO/LIVE STATS
Site: Higher Seeds for all games
Admission
$10.00 - Adults
$2.00 - Students and seniors with ID
Free - Children under 12