One season after winning their first SUNYAC Championship since 2009 and advancing to the second round of the NCAA tournament, the College at Brockport men’s soccer team is struggling to earn one of six spots in the conference tournament.
“We didn’t expect to start out this way, but we’re just trying to keep our heads up and keep going,” Hilton native and senior Jeff Hibbard said.
“Last year we were getting all the bounces and this year we’re not getting anything, but we just need to stay positive and get these last couple,” senior and Brockport High grad Jason Hayes said.
Scoring has been a large part of the problem as they have scored more than one goal in a game just once since the SUNYAC portion of the schedule began in late September.
A 2-0 loss to Buffalo State on home field in early October didn’t help as they out-chanced the Bengals 6-2 but could not convert.
Brockport threatened first, but sophomore Matthew Stefaniw and senior Chris Kinsley both hit the post and two other shots were saved or blocked during a four-shot flurry in the 14th minute.
After Buffalo State converted their first real scoring chance at 25:39, Hibbard has his bid to tie the game from 20-yards out tipped over the crossbar by the Bengals goalkeeper.
The Bengals extended their lead to 2-0 ten minutes into the second half and Brockport tried to play catch-up the rest of the game with four legitimate scoring chances over the next 20 minutes, but failing to convert.
“It’s disappointing and demoralizing obviously outshooting your opponent by ten shots every game and coming up short,” Hibbard summarized.
“I never expected my senior year to go this way, especially after the way last year ended,” Hayes said.
The Golden Eagles will honor Hibbard, Hayes, Churchville-Chili’s Austin Butts and seven other seniors at their final home game October 23 against Houghton.
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