October 28, 2006

CONTACT: Van Zanic

Sports Information Director

(724) 847-6886

Geneva Bounced from Play-off Contention, Fall to Daemen 2-1

Beaver, PA - The weather in Beaver County was quite simply nasty on Saturday. As a result of the constant rain and poor field conditions at Geneva′s Merriman Athletic Complex, Geneva′s men′s soccer team was forced to move from its home field to Beaver High School to face Daemen College on Saturday in a game that would determine the fourth and final play-off team from the AMC North. The Golden Tornadoes ended up on the short end of a 2-1 decision, which officially eliminated them from any hopes of advancing into the post-season. Geneva saw its record fall to 3-11-3 overall, including an 0-4-1 mark in the conference.

Despite going winless in its first 11 matches of the season, Geneva had a chance to sneak into fourth place with a victory on Saturday, but a Daemen goal with just eight minutes remaining in regulation proved to be the difference.

Daemen opened the scoring with a goal in the 26^th minute of the first half. Geneva trailed by one goal until senior A.J. Tardio found the net for his first goal of the season with just 13 minutes remaining in the second half. The momentum, however, was short-lived as the Golden Tornadoes watched Daemen notch the game-winner just five minutes later.

In an evenly played match, Daemen and Geneva both has scoring opportunities, but the goalkeepers on both ends were up to the challenge. Geneva′s Sam McCracken made ten saves in the loss.

Geneva will close out the regular season on Tuesday with a road match against Malone College. That match was scheduled to be played last week, but strong rain forced its postponement and it will be made up on Tuesday to end Geneva′s 2006 season, the first under new head coach Todd Beall.