Senior midfielder Matt D’Amico looks to send the ball up the field during a game against SUNY Oswego. Despite having a younger roster, the men finished off strong with a record of 9-7-2. (Ash Dean/Photo Editor)
The first few weeks of the fall semester are difficult, as students adjust to new weather, a new place to live and new classes. The campus should be excited for the fall 2017 sports, however, as revealed by the successes of Geneseo’s fall 2016 athletes.
A staple of accolades during the fall season for years has been the Geneseo cross country team. 2016 was no different; the Knights finished in the top 10 in every meet they participated in apart from the Rochester Invitational in September.
The men’s and women’s teams had runners accept All-SUNYAC and national honors. In addition, both teams won the SUNYAC Championship and advanced to the NCAA Division III Championship in Kentucky, where the men finished second and the women third in an impressive fashion—solidifying themselves as one of best programs in the country.
The fan favorite soccer program, too, had another promising season on the men’s and women’s side. The men finished the season above .500. The men’s highlight of the season may have been when senior defender Brad Campion was named SUNYAC Men’s Soccer Scholar Athlete of the Year. The women’s team had a successful season, too, although they ultimately lost in the SUNYAC finals.
The volleyball team had another extremely successful season as well, advancing to the SUNYAC Tournament. There, they proceeded past SUNY Fredonia in the quarterfinals, eventually losing in the semis to SUNY Brockport, 3-1.
The Geneseo equestrian team also had a very positive season, the highlight of which was when senior Anna Brogan and junior Samantha Childs both took third place at the regional championships.
Maybe the most impressive turnaround of the season, however, belongs to the Geneseo field hockey team. To say they had a rough start to the season would be an understatement, as they lost eight of their first nine games.
Following their loss to St. John Fisher College in September, they were able to go on an eight-game winning streak and ultimately defeated SUNY Oneonta 3-2 to become SUNYAC champions.
Fall sports at Geneseo are fostering a tradition of success and excellence, which the students and faculty can look forward to. It is a point of consistency that always marks the beginning of any semester to help the campus find their stride.