*The Sea Gulls (23-0) had entered Sunday’s final boasting the stingiest defense in the country, but that didn’t prevent the Red Dragons (21-1) from more than doubling Salisbury’s season average of 4.8 goals with 10. Only Stevenson in an 11-10 loss to the Sea Gulls on April 14 had posted double-digit goals against that defense. Cortland senior attackman Mike Tota said the players rose to the occasion of testing their mettle against Salisbury. “Any time you take the field, you’re taking on a challenge we just happened to go against the top-ranked defense as far as goals-against average in the nation,” said Tota, who paced the Red Dragons with three goals and one assist. “We felt we had something to prove going into the game. We were obviously unable to come out on top, but we fought hard and made some nice plays. We had some good offense throughout the game. We just weren’t able to make enough.”
Postscript from SUNY-Cortland vs. Salisbury
Reserve attackman Lantz Carter steps up in biggest stage for 10-time champion Sea Gulls
*Cortland’s season ended in disappointment, but the team did establish a program record for most wins in a season and the most consecutive victories. The loss to the Sea Gulls did not detract from those accomplishments, Beville said. “I told our guys in the locker room, there is something wrong with you if it doesn’t bother you,” he said. “It should irritate you and it should bother you that you lost in the championship game. We didn’t play as well as we could have, but they put it out there. They played their hearts out, and I thought gave everything they had. They’re going to keep their heads high. We’re very proud of the team. I know the guys are proud of each other. They’re a tight team, and a lot of returning players. We’re going to miss our seniors, but we have a lot less seniors than these guys do. I think we look forward to next year and the opportunity to get back here.”
