COBLESKILL MEN’S SOCCER ENDS SEASON IN REGION III CHAMPIONSHIP

The SUNY Cobleskill men’s soccer team saw their impressive 2006 season end with 3:47 left in the second overtime versus nationally number one ranked Herkimer Community College at the 2006 NJCAA Region III Division III Championship on Sunday evening in Herkimer, NY as the host Generals took the 1-0 decision from the Fighting Tigers. Cobleskill, which entered the contest ranked sixth in the NJCAA National Poll, had advanced to the tournament finale on the strength of a 1-0 semifinal victory on Saturday afternoon over the number fourteen ranked Cougars of Genesee Community College. The Fighting Tigers end the 2006 season with the best single season record in program history at 15-2-1.

“Although a loss with 3:47 left in the second overtime of a regional championship is extremely tough to swallow; when I take a step back and look at our record breaking season, I know that we have returned our program to a position of national prominence,” said Fighting Tiger Head Coach Rob Szmarz. “We knew that both of the weekend’s games would be dogfights and Saturday’s game against Genesee and Sunday’s game against Herkimer proved to be just that.”

On Saturday the Fighting Tigers battled the Genesee Cougars tooth and nail until with 20:49 remaining in regulation when senior defender Josh Cookfair, Scotia, NY, Schalmont High School, took a pass off the foot of freshman forward Jamey Crumb, McGraw, NY, McGraw High School, and converted the eventual game winner.

The Cobleskill defense continued its stellar play throughout the windy afternoon limiting the Cougars to only five shots on goal of which freshman goalkeeper Abdou Seck, Bronx, NY, Dewitt Clinton High School, recorded three saves in the contest.

“It was a contest that was played mainly between the eighteen yard lines with very few quality scoring opportunities for either team,” said Coach Szmarz. “It was really a ninety minute battle for possession. About a minute before Josh scored we had a goal disallowed on a controversial off-side call. That seemed to raise our game and we rallied to score the game winner just about a minute later.”

In the Herkimer game the Fighting Tigers appeared to have a chance to decide the issue in regulation when freshman midfielder Essaha Jallow, Bronx, NY, Dewitt Clinton High School, broke free on a 65 yard run through a swarming General defense. However Jallow’s blast was stopped by General Ryan Brooks-Newton which eventually led to overtime sessions.

Since taking the helm of the program four years ago, Coach Rob Szmarz’s teams have posted a 35-25-4 overall record advancing to post season play in 2005 and 2006. Under his direction the program’s appearance in the 2006 NJCAA Region III Championship marks only the third time in the long history of SUNY Cobleskill men’s soccer that the team has played for a regional title.