CORTLAND, N.Y. – The SUNY Cortland and SUNY Geneseo women's lacrosse teams have advanced to the championship game of the State University of New York Athletic Conference playoffs with victories in Friday's semifinal round. The teams will play for the league title and an automatic bid into the NCAA Division III playoffs on Saturday at 1:00 p.m.

Junior Andrea Venditti (Baldwinsville/C.W. Baker) scored five goals and surpassed 100 career points as nationally fifth-ranked Cortland defeated Buffalo St., 14-3. Senior Melody Kuzniar (Rome/Rome Free Academy) and junior Martha Katz (Pittsford/Pittsford-Mendon) each scored four goals to lead Geneseo to a 13-11 victory over Oneonta.

The Red Dragons earned their eighth straight trip to the conference finals and are seeking their eighth consecutive league crown after extending their school-record winning streak to 16 games, running their record to 16-0 on the season. With the loss, the Bengals fell to 8-9 on the season.

Besides Venditt's offensive outburst for the Red Dragons, junior Ali Bourgal (Sachem) had three goals and an assist, senior Erin Lynn (Baldwinsville/C.W. Baker) recorded two goals and an assist, sophomore Beth Elmer (Camillus/West Genesee) contributed a pair of goals and junior Gina Fazio (Brownville/General Brown) added a goal and two assists. Senior goalie Regina Grosso (Baldwinsville/C.W. Baker) made 8 saves in 54:40 before giving way to senior Michelle Zimmer (Skaneateles), who stopped three shots in 5:20..

For Buffalo St., junior Leah Bernal (Marilla/Iroquois) and sophomores Katie Lyons (Williamsville/Williamsville North) and Erin Silky (Liverpool) each scored one goal and sophomore Shantel Ackley (Baldwinsville/C.W. Baker) collected an assist. Sophomore goalie Katie Rivers (Watertown) registered 12 saves.

Cortland opened up a 3-0 lead on scores from Lynn, Venditti and Bourgal before Silky made it a 3-1 game just past the halfway point of the opening half. The Red Dragons closed the first half with three goals for a 6-1 lead. Venditti sandwiched two goals around Fazio's score.

The Red Dragons steadily pulled away in the second half, scoring the first eight goals to build a commanding 14-1 lead with eight minutes remaining. Bourgal, Elmer and Venditti each scored twice during the run. The Bengals closed out the scoring with goals from Lyons and Bernal.

Cortland outshot Buffalo St., 35-15, and held a 35-20 advantage in ground balls in the game.
Scoring (Goals-Assists):

Buffalo St.: Leah Bernal 1-0, Katie Lyons 1-0, Erin Sikly 1-0, Shantel Ackley 0-1
Cortland: Andrea Venditti 5-1, Ali Bourgal 3-1, Erin Lynn 2-1, Beth Elmer 2-0, Gina Fazio 1-2, Jesssie Lynch 1-1, Jill Battaglia 0-1

Goalkeepers:
Buffalo St.: Lauren Katie Rivers 12 saves (14 GA in 60:00)
Cortland: Regina Grosso 8 saves (2 GA in 54:40), Michelle Zimmer 3 saves (1 GA in 5:20)

Shots: Cortland 35, Buffalo St. 15
Ground Balls: Cortland 35, Buffalo St. 20
Draw Controls: Cortland 11, Buffalo St. 8
Caused Turnovers: Buffalo St. 9, Cortland 8
Turnovers: Buffalo St. 25, Cortland 19
Fouls: Buffalo St. 21, Cortland 17

2006-05-05