PITTSFORD, N.Y. – Russell Sage College had its season come to a close in the Empire 8 Conference Championship Tournament Quarterfinals with this afternoon's 1-0 loss at top-seeded Saint John Fisher.
The Cardinals, winners of seven in-a-row, scored on the first shot of the playoff contest. Senior forward Riley Rease had the tally 5:47 in, and the Fisher defense made the early goal stand up from there.
SJFU (10-4-4) now with 11 shutouts this fall, out-shot the eighth-seeded Gators 18-11, including 13-6 in the second half.
Junior midfielder Alejandro Aleo (Alicante, Spain/Ira Macia Abela/Saint Rose) led RSC (7-8-3) with four shots taken, while freshman goalkeeper Maximilian Bertmann (South Burlington, VT/South Burlington) tallied six saves. (7-6-3)
The Cardinals advance to Wednesday's semis and will host SUNY Brockport, seeded fifth.
Gator Bites: Head coach Amir Pasic is in his third season at the helm of the Gators…21 newcomers combined with 16 returnees to comprise this fall's roster…Forward El Hadji Iba Sy (Bronx, NY/Emma Lazarus), a grad student, sophomore forward Dimitri Gogas (Merrick, NY/W.C. Mepham), and senior midfielder/forward Joe Piperata (Rensselaer, NY/Catholic Central) highlighted the returning Gators…Junior Alejandro Aleo (Alicante, Spain/Ira Macia Abela/Saint Rose), freshman defender Logan Diebold (Williamsville, NY/Williamsville South), and senior forward Darien Espinal (Clifton Park, NY/Shenendehowa/Saint Rose) headlined the crop of new faces…Senior defenders Taiwo Afolabi (Arlington, TX/Mansfield Summit/Medaille), and Mason Kievit (LaGrange, NY/Our Lady of Lourdes), and Aleo, serve as the team captains…Bertmann was selected the Empire 8 Conference Defensive Player of the Week three times this fall (for the periods ending: Sunday, Sept. 15, Sept. 22, and Oct. 6)…The rookie began the week ranked fourth in the Conference with 51 saves…Iba Sy was tabbed the E8 Player of the Week for the period ending Sunday, October 20…He opened the week tied for first in the E8 with nine goals and sat third in the Conference with 20 points...Gogas started the week tied for second on the circuit with six assists...The duo of Iba Sy and Gogas each had three game-winning goals during the regular season, tied for second-most in the E8.
