By Collin Bolebruch
Having reported on SUNYAC sports for three years now, I want the sports section to expand beyond Plattsburgh. In this column, I will explore membership issues, rivals’ seasons and the conference the Cardinals call home.
SUNYAC soccer wraps up Saturday, with matches on the table that will determine the leagues’ final seedings. On the men’s side, the first-round byes are still on the table, and the women’s side is sorting out who will make up the final spots.
In those games, the conference’s stars will step up to lead their teams. The league’s best will be rewarded after the season with its annual awards. Who is deserving of those trophies?
Men’s Huntley Parker Offensive Player of the Year: Diego Rivera, Buffalo State
Rivera has enjoyed the league’s best offensive numbers this season on one the league’s best offenses. Rivera has scored 15 goals and 7 assists for 37 total points. Buffalo State leads the league in goals for average with 2.93, is currently ranked as the second team in the region and will enter the postseason with a first-round bye. Matt Schultz, with 35 points, could insert himself as the favorite Saturday, when he plays Rivera’s Bengals.
Runner-ups: Matt Shultz, Cortland and Brian Taylor, Fredonia.
Men’s Fred Halloway Defensive Player of the Year: Derek Marques, Oneonta
The SUNYAC saw some great performances from keepers this season, but the end-of-season DPOY should go to the heart of the league’s best defense. Marques has led the Red Dragons to eight clean sheets, a league-best 0.75 goals against average and wins over Cortland and New Paltz. Marques won the SUNYAC Defensive Player of the Week on Oct. 7 and has recorded three goals and an assist for seven points.
Runner-ups: Christian Micheli, New Paltz and Alex Lessman, Cortland.
Men’s Rookie of the Year: Ronaldo Fatolou, Morrisville
Not often does a first-year start the majority of games in net, but Fatolou did so to a high degree. The rookie is second in the league in saves with 64 and third in save percentage with 0.810 percent. Fatolou has pitched three shutouts and earned SUNYAC Defensive Player of the Week on Sept. 30.
Runner-ups: Brandon Dhanoolal, New Paltz and Bryan Lizama, New Paltz.
Men’s Coaching Staff of the Year: Cortland
Cortland (13-3-3, 6-1-1) is set up to battle Buffalo State (13-1-1, 6-1-0) for the first seed tomorrow, in what could be the best game of the season. The Red Dragons, despite being ranked lower than the Bengals in polls, have the upper hand statistically. Cortland leads the league in goal differential at +20. In the SUNYAC, the Dragons lead with an average of 3.25 goals — 1.11 more than the Bengals — and are second in goals against average with 0.75. Cortland’s experience and potential first-round bye make them the favorite to win the title.
Runner-ups: Buffalo State and Oneonta
Women’s Offensive Player of the Year: Rachel Eisert, New Paltz
Eisert won OPOY in 2023 with a 31-point performance. With 29 so far this season, I think she’s shown that she deserves to be the second two-time winner ever. Eisert has scored 13 goals and recorded three assists. She has propelled first-place New Paltz to average a league-best 3.2 goals a game and a 12-2-2 (7-0-1) record.
Runner-ups: Olivia Kilmer, Buffalo State and Gaby Treble, New Paltz
Women’s Defensive Player of the Year: Kristen Spendal, Cortland
Spendal has been the anchor of the league’s second-best defense this season. She’s recorded seven shutouts and a goals against average of 0.77. Spendal has 69 saves and a save percentage of 0.863, the league’s second-best mark. New Paltz’s Maddie Franklin should also get serious consideration, but Spendal has seen more action in SUNYAC games, saving 13 more balls.
Runner-ups: Maddie Franklin, New Paltz and Bryanna Meehan, Oneonta
Women’s Rookie of the Year: Olivia Kilmer, Buffalo State
Kilmer should take this award without question. The Bengal must also have a candidacy for OPOY, scoring 11 goals and one assists for 23 total points. Kilmer and the Bengals are the fourth seed and could make some noise in the postseason.
Runner-ups: Makenzie Below, Buffalo State and Grace Lien, New Paltz
Women’s Coaching Staff of the Year: New Paltz
Far and wide, New Paltz — led by head coach Mike Eckberg and assistants Samantha Trimblett and Jess Funke — has been the best team in the conference. As dominant as they have been on offense, the Hawks have also allowed just 0.33 goals per game. They’ve cruised through the SUNYAC so far, entering the final game undefeated in conference games.
Runner-ups: Cortland and Oswego
Saturday will change some of these predictions, and the playoffs could flip everything on its head entirely. I considered those factors in some of these predictions and I’m confident in these winners or at least runner-ups. However, I’d be completely happy if all of these were wrong if it meant Cortland doesn’t sweep the soccer SUNYAC Championships.
