Locals Help SUNY Brockport to Second Title
SUNY Brockport women’s soccer clinched its second consecutive regular season title after joining the Empire 8 conference last season, with five local athletes playing key roles.
Churchville-Chili alumni Amelia Breton, Emily McCane, and Brooke D’Ovidio, along with Hilton’s Caitlin Nelson and Kendall’s Megan Gates, helped the Golden Eagles to a 10-0-1 conference record and 12-1-4 overall heading into the postseason.
“Some of that is chance baked in there, but they’ve all done great, and I love having the local representation, and I think it means a lot for them to be playing at a school as the hometown kid type of thing,” Brockport head coach Mike Idland said.
“I think it’s great for them, great for us, and the community.”
Junior Breton led the team and stood fifth in the conference in scoring with 15 points, seventh in goals with six, three of them game-winners.
“She’s been in a big role from the get-go; she fought off injuries on and off throughout her first season and has been special since before she arrived, and we knew that. She has the game-changing quality and lots of time out there last season, and growing from there.
“It’s great to see her more or less taking games over on a fairly regular basis.”
Senior Caitlin Nelson stood seventh in the conference in assists and was third on the team in scoring behind only Breton and senior Megan Gerber with ten points.
“We just had our senior day the other day, and we shared some thoughts, and hers was how difficult it is to take her off the field. Productivity you can’t deny. She’s one hundred percent around the ball, keeps the opponent off balance, and she’s one of the most responsible defensive players for an attacking player and fit enough to do the work in both directions.”
Junior goalkeeper McCane had started 11 games and allowed one goal while making 18 saves over 542 minutes. She and senior Meghan McCrosson have virtually split the minutes in goal, with McCane getting the bulk of the starts.
Combined, all four goalkeepers and the back four have allowed a conference-low five goals in 16 games.
“We had a lot of success keeping the ball out of the net, and that’s been a group effort.”
D’Ovidio and Gates round out the local connection and have combined for five starts, 20 games played, and six shots.
Brockport wrapped up its regular season on October 29 and entered the postseason again as the top seed. They were ranked fourth in the United Soccer Coaches Region III poll as of October 21.
