SAGE PLACES THREE PLAYERS ON 2017 EMPIRE 8 MEN'S SOCCER ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM: SEYBOLT NAMED E8 SOCCER PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Rochester, NY- Sage's men's soccer team wrapped their 2017 season on Saturday evening falling in the championship game of the Empire 8. Sage's season ended with a 1-0 loss to Stevens in the finals and the Gators wrap their first season in the new conference with a 10-6-2 overall mark and the runner-up title.
The Empire 8 announced the 2017 Men's Soccer All-Tournament Team on Monday and three Gators were honored for their play in the tournament. Named to the all-tournament team from Sage were junior forward River Seybolt (Seldon, NY/Longwood), junior midfielder Liam Hayes (Rensselaer, NY/Columbia), and senior defender Kevin Saar (Binghamton, NY/Windsor Central).
Sage came from behind to tie the game in the semifinals with Nazareth and triumph, 2-1 in overtime. Sage trailed at the half and with just 1:56 left in regulation, junior forward River Seybolt (Selden, NY/Longwood) tied the game on a pass from senior Derlis Zayas (White Plains, NY/White Plains). Zayas had the initial shot which was blocked before Seybolt collected the rebound for the goal at 88:04.
Late in the first period of overtime, Seybolt would score his second goal of the match at 99:32 propelling Sage into the conference finals. Junior captain Ryan Fairweather (Middletown, NY/Minisink Valley) collected the assist on the goal.
Seybolt finished the tournament with two goals and capped his junior season as the team's top scorer with a personal-best 16 goals, three assists and 35 points. Already Sage's all-time leading goal scorer, he has 40 goals with 10 assists and continues to build upon Sage's career point record he holds with 90 points.
Seybolt earned his third selection as the Empire 8 Men's Soccer Offensive Player of the Week for his play.
Hayes was a starter in both tournament matches and helped Sage to the tournament runner-up title as did Saar with his play. Saar wraps his outstanding career having helped Sage to four-straight post-season appearances in his time as a Gator. As a sophomore, he helped Sage to the 2015 Skyline Conference Championship and a spot in the team's first NCAA Tournament appearances. A year ago, Sage finished the year as the 2016 Skyline Conference Tournament Runner-up after falling in overtime in the finals. Over the course of his career, Saar played in 71 games at Sage and ranks seventh highest in the category in the career record book.