Division III Men :      May 12, 2002 [ The Game Story]
Ithaca 10 Cortland State 9 Scoring: Scoring: Dennis Juleff Morris Jemal Sam Griffo Scott Guerra Brian Weil Josh Marksberry (5, 0) (1, 2) (2, 0) (2, 0) (0, 1) (0, 1) Derek Elvin Craig Degnan Steve Blanshan Rob Mccurdy Rob Mckeefrey Andrew Roth Adam Hughes (3, 1) (2, 2) (1, 1) (1, 0) (1, 0) (1, 0) (0, 1) Saves: Saves: Ryan Martin 9  (0.500) Steve Feltmann 10  (0.500) Current Record :     (11-4) Current Record :     (16-3) Team Page For 2002 Team Page For 2002       The Game Story:

It was raining in Ithaca on Sunday. Raining? Of course it was raining. I've covered three games there so far this season and each time the weather has been abysmal. But rain, shine, hail, sleet or snow, nothing was going to faze Ithaca as they were enroute to their 10-9 upset victory over nearby rival Cortland in the NCAA Quarterfinals. The game was a nailbiter to the end and a disappointing one for the Cortland Red Dragons as they fell to the Ithaca Bombers for the second time this year.

I actually missed the very first goal or rather I heard the cheers when I was walking to the field, but it was Cortland who drew blood first, minutes into the contest. Second and third blood also belonged to the Red Dragon's as middies Steve Blanshan and Derek Elvin both capitalized on hard shots from out in front of the net. So, before I even had time to settle in for a rainy game it was 3-0 Cortland. Ithaca finally answered back when Dennis Juleff ripped a shot past Cortland goalie Steve Feltmann. This was the first of his 5 goals he would go on to have in the game. The game was surprisingly fast paced for the weather it was played in. It was hard hitting too. Even the goalies were getting into it. At one point in the game the Cortland goalie came out and absolutely flattened an Ithaca defenseman. The crowd really appreciated that one. Later in the first Cortland got two quick goals from Craig Degnan and Derek Elvin. Flying high and leading 5-1 Cortland tried, but did not escape Ithaca's attack before the buzzer sounded. After notching the goal Ithaca escaped the quarter trailing by 3.

The second quarter turned out to be an even more of a seesaw battle than the first. Before halftime the teams would go on to exchange goals 3 times in a peferct back and forth order. The highlight of the quarter came right at the beginning when Dennis Juleff's blazing shot found the upper corner of the net. The Cortland goalie had no chance whatsoever. This shaved the lead to 5-3. Morris Jemal got the other two scores for Ithaca in the quarter. Craig Degnan, RobMcCurdy, and Derek Elvin scored for Cortland in the second quarter.

Trailing 8-5, Ithaca must have talked about alot during the short halftime because they came back in the third quarter to hold Cortland scoreless and net 3 of their own. Attackman Morris Jemal got the rally going on a shot finishing off a nice drive from the side. Dennis Juleff began to emerge as the game's hero as he ripped two shots from outside that managed to get by the Cortland goalie. As the clock expired everyone was ready for the fourth with the scored all knotted at 8.

Cortland broke loose first with a huge goal from Rob McKeefrey which started off a fast break. Considering this and that fact Steve Feltmann came up huge in net for the Red Dragon's as he simply stoned 3 or 4 Ithaca attackers with great chances right on his doorstep made me wonder if Ithaca had any chance to tie this thing back up. I thought too soon. It was Sam Griffo with the tying goal as he fired a shot past Feltmann on the fast break right from the faceoff after Cortland's last goal. With the score 9-9 and an overtime looking more and more inevitable, Dennis Juleff became the undisputed hero of the game for Ithaca as he fired a shot past Feltmann with 0:57 left on the clock. Cortland ended up winning the ensuing faceoff, but they couldn't generate any good chances. The game ended 10-9 as Ithaca advances in the tournament. With the win, they earn the right to play Middlebury for a chance to make it to Memorial Day weekend.