In a disappointing turn of events, the SUNY Cortland men’s lacrosse team lost their playoff game to Geneseo with a final score of 13-7. Despite putting up a valiant effort, the team was unable to overcome their opponent’s strong defense and precision offense.
The loss brings an end to their season, but the team can take pride in the effort and dedication they displayed throughout the year.
As the season now comes to its conclusion, it’s important to point out the teams’ huge efforts this season and go over their best moments as we rank the top ten regular season games from the semester.
10. 18-10 victory over Skidmore:
On March 22nd, the Cortland men’s lacrosse team emerged victorious with an 18-10 win over Skidmore in non-conference action at the Stadium Complex. The Red Dragons established a commanding 6-0 lead early in the second quarter, thanks to goals from Tyler Starrett, Caden Yancey, Dante Yacavone, Ryan Scanlon, and Austin Palmer. Jason Chiodo led the way with four goals, followed by three goals and an assist from Starrett and Scanlon. Klay Stuver and Palmer each contributed two goals, with Yancey and senior Dante Yacavone adding one goal each. Despite Skidmore’s attempt at a comeback, the Red Dragons maintained control to improve their record to 5-1.
9. 21-14 win over Scranton:
The Cortland men’s lacrosse team secured a 21-14 victory against Scranton, in a game that had been postponed for one day due to poor weather conditions. The win brought the Red Dragons to a 2-0 record, while the Royals fell to 2-2.
Senior Tyler Starrett played a pivotal role in the win, scoring a career-high six goals for the Cortland team. Senior Troy Morris followed closely with four goals, while senior Dante Yacavone contributed two goals and an assist. Sophomores Caden Yancey and Ryan Smith also had a great performance, each scoring two goals.
In addition, senior Jason Chiodo (Hamburg), sophomore Ryan Scanlon, and freshman Nathan Nagengast each scored a goal and an assist for the Red Dragons. Sophomores Klay Stuver and Rich Finn netted one goal, while junior Bobby Kratochvil and freshman Colin Doyle each contributed an assist.
After trailing 5-3 at the end of the first quarter, Cortland went on an eight-goal run in the second quarter to take the lead, 11-9, at the half. The lead grew to 18-11 by the end of the third quarter, before both teams split six goals in the final quarter to end the game at 21-14.
8. 21-4 victory over Washington College:
The squad won a 21-4 victory against Washington College on March 12th, with twenty different players contributing to the win. The Red Dragons improved to 4-0 on the season, while the Shoremen fell to 4-2.
Current Cortland head coach Steve Beville, who was inducted into the Washington College Athletic Hall of Fame, was a two-time Div. III Defenseman of the Year during his time there.
Senior Tyler Starrett led Cortland with four goals, while senior Dante Yacavone scored two goals and assisted on another, and senior Jason Chiodo, sophomore Klay Stuver, and freshman Caden Blandford each netted two goals. Senior Troy Morris registered five points, including one goal and four assists, while sophomore Kole Stuver scored a career-high four points with one goal and three assists.
Junior Travis Wagner made 13 saves in goal for Cortland, and senior Matt Stento added an assist while stopping one shot in his 11:30 minutes of play. Sophomore Owen Neubauer won 14 of 21 faceoffs and collected seven ground balls.
7. 16-8 victory over Potsdam
On April 1st, the Cortland men’s lacrosse team claimed victory over the Potsdam Bears with a score of 16-8 in a SUNYAC match at the Stadium Complex. The Red Dragons improved their record to 6-3 overall and evened their conference record to 1-1, while Potsdam fell to 5-4 overall and 0-2 in conference play.
Senior Dante Yacavone led the Cortland team, scoring three goals and providing two assists, followed by sophomore Caden Yancey with two goals and two assists. Senior Jason Chiodo scored two goals and assisted once, while senior Troy Morris from Long Beach and sophomore Klay Stuver each scored two goals. Senior Tyler Starrett, Austin Palmer, and sophomore Ryan Smith from East Islip each scored one goal and assisted once. Freshmen Jono Arena and Kyle Valinchus each scored one goal for the Red Dragons. Freshman Nick Stoecker from Ward Melville provided two assists, and senior Justin Wainwright and sophomore Kole Stuver added one assist each.
Cortland’s junior goalie Travis Wagner made 15 saves, allowing just six goals in 48:54, while senior Matt Stento made one save in 7:04, and freshman Nick Mathes turned aside one shot over the final 4:02. Sophomore Owen Neubauer won all 13 faceoffs and gathered six ground balls, and sophomore Rich Finn from Arlington won 6-of-9 faceoffs. Wainwright and sophomore Johnny Bowen collected five ground balls each, while Chiodo added four ground balls.
6. 18-10 victory over New Paltz
On April 8th, the Cortland men’s lacrosse team cruised to an 18-10 victory over New Paltz, thanks to the efforts of nine different goal scorers. Senior Jason Chiodo led the pack with an impressive five goals, while sophomore Caden Yancey also contributed five points with three goals and two assists. Senior Troy Morris netted three goals, and sophomore Klay Stuver scored twice, while freshmen Nathan Nagengast picked up a goal and two assists.
Seniors Dante Yacavone and Tyler Starrett each tallied a goal and an assist, with sophomores Zach Perlett and Ryan Smith also scoring a goal. Additionally, sophomore Sam Rothman recorded two assists, and senior Austin Palmer picked up one assist for the Red Dragons.
Junior goalie Travis Wagner stopped 16 shots in just over 52 minutes of play before being replaced by senior Matt Stento, who turned aside six shots in the final minutes of the game. Sophomore Rich Finn won 16 of 25 faceoffs and collected eight ground balls. Yacavone, Yancey, and senior Justin Wainwright each scooped up four ground balls, while Palmer and freshman Dino Bowen secured three ground balls.
5. 20-9 victory over Plattsburgh:
The Cortland men’s lacrosse team dominated in the first half to secure a 20-9 win over Plattsburgh in the SUNYAC finale. Cortland’s victory improved their overall record to 12-4, with a 6-1 conference record.
With the win, Cortland claimed the second seed in the upcoming SUNYAC playoffs, where they would eventually be knocked out by Geneseo.
Senior Dante Yacavone led Cortland’s offense with six goals, while sophomore Caden Yancey added three goals. Senior Jason Chiodo contributed five points with two goals and three assists, while junior Colton Smith and sophomore Klay Stuver each scored twice. Senior Troy Morris recorded a goal and two assists, with freshman Jono Arena and sophomore Ryan Scanlon adding a goal and an assist each. Freshman Nick Stoecker and sophomore Owen Neubauer also scored a goal, and four players contributed with one assist each.
Senior Matt Stento started in goal for Cortland and made six saves in the first half, while giving up only three goals. Owen Folkwein and Nick Mathes also made saves in the second half.
In addition to his goal, Neubauer won 9-of-14 faceoffs and collected seven ground balls. Sophomore Rich Finn and freshman Josue Cruz also had success on faceoffs, winning 7-of-13 and 4-of-6 respectively. Justin Wainwright collected six ground balls, while Finn and Cruz each secured four ground balls. Logan Schanars contributed three ground balls and two caused turnovers.
4. 13-7 victory over Ithaca:
On April 19th, the Cortland men’s lacrosse team secured a 13-7 victory against Ithaca. The Red Dragons dominated the first half, taking a 9-3 lead into halftime and extending their lead to 12-3 by the end of the third quarter.
Cortland’s offense was led by sophomore Klay Stuver, who scored four goals, while seniors Dante Yacavone and Tyler Starrett each netted three goals. Senior Jason Chiodo, senior Troy Morris, and freshman Colin Doyle also contributed with a goal each, and sophomore Miles Kane picked up an assist.
Junior Travis Wagner started in goal for Cortland and tied his career-high with 18 saves in 56:52, while senior Matt Stento made two saves in 3:08. Sophomore Owen Neubauer won eight faceoffs and collected four ground balls, and senior Dominick Natale secured four ground balls.
3. 17-2 victory over Lasell:
On March 10th, the Cortland men’s lacrosse team emerged victorious with a score of 17-2 against Lasell University at Western New England. Senior Troy Morris led the team with four goals and an assist, bringing his total career points to 103, making him the 59th player in program history to surpass 100 career points.
Apart from Morris, several other players contributed to the win, including senior Dante Yacavone, who scored two goals and an assist, freshman Jono Arena who scored his first two career goals, and senior Tyler Starrett who had a goal and four assists. Sophomore Klay Stuver also added a goal and two assists, while senior Jason Chiodo from Hamburg and junior Bobby Kratochvil each had a goal and an assist.
Junior goalie Travis Wagner made six saves and allowed one goal through three quarters, while senior Matt Stento stopped one shot in the fourth quarter. The Red Dragons dominated on faceoffs, winning 16 out of 23. Sophomore Owen Neubauer secured seven out of 12 and recorded five ground balls, while sophomore Rich Finn won six out of seven with four ground balls. Sophomore Jack O’Brien was successful on three out of four faceoffs with three ground balls.
2. 17-8 victory over Oneonta; Beville’s 400th career win:
On April 22nd, the Cortland men’s lacrosse team secured a 17-8 victory at Oneonta after establishing a commanding 12-2 lead at halftime. Head coach Steve Beville celebrated his 400th career win with the win, having coached for 35 years, with a record of 400-175, including a 239-57 mark at Cortland.
Cortland was led by senior Dante Yacavone, who scored four goals and provided an assist. Senior Tyler Starrett added three goals, while senior Jason Chiodo and sophomore Caden Yancey each contributed two goals and an assist.
Senior Troy Morris and freshman Nick Stoecker each had one goal and one assist, with sophomores Sam Rothman, Kole Stuver, Ryan Scanlon and freshman Nathan Nagengast also finding the back of the net. Sophomore Klay Stuver provided two assists, while senior Justin Wainwright and sophomore Ryan Smith had an assist each.
Cortland’s defense was anchored by junior Travis Wagner who started in goal and made six saves in 39:34. Senior Matt Stento and freshman Nick Mathes each had four saves in their time on the field. Sophomore Rich Finn dominated faceoffs, winning 10-of-15. Sophomore Johnny Bowen forced three turnovers, while Wainwright had four ground balls, securing a team high.
1. 12-5 victory over St. John Fisher:
In an anticipated rematch against the team that knocked Cortland out of the playoffs the prior season, the Red Dragons would come out on top defeating the #13th ranked nationally St. John Fisher 12-5.
In the second half, the Red Dragons outscored the Cardinals 7-3, with senior Jason Chiodo leading the team with three goals. Sophomores Caden Yancey and Klay Stuver scored two goals each, while other Red Dragon goal scorers included Dante Yacavone, Tyler Starrett, Troy Morris, Alex Thrasher, and Sam Rothman. Sophomore Ryan Scanlon contributed three assists. Junior goalie Travis Wagner made 14 saves for Cortland, while senior Justin Wainwright collected five ground balls and caused two turnovers. Sophomore Owen Neubauer won eight face-offs and scooped up four ground balls.
After the Cardinals grabbed a 2-1 lead in the first quarter, the Red Dragons scored four goals in the second quarter to take a 5-2 lead at halftime. After Dautrich pulled the Cardinals to within 5-3 in the third quarter, the Red Dragons scored three straight goals to build an 8-3 advantage. Mason’s second goal late in the quarter sent the game to the final 15 minutes with Cortland holding an 8-4 lead. In the fourth quarter, Cortland put the game away with a four-goal run, with Yancey, Rothman, Thrasher, and Stuver each scoring one goal. Mason’s third goal of the game completed the scoring, with Cortland securing the 12-5 win.
Although the Red Dragons couldn’t go all the way this season, they’ve proven time and time again they have what it takes to make the hurdle and win the whole thing. Although it’s important to point out what went wrong throughout the season, it’s more important to point to the positives as well.