Box Score SCARBOROUGH, ME – The American Collegiate Athletic Conference in connection with the Association of Division 3 Independents concluded their conference tournament on Sunday with three games. SUNY Canton would be named the Men's Consolation Champion in the early game, while SUNY Canton would take the women's championship. The Pine Manor Gators would take the ACAA Men's Championship.
MEN'S CONSOLATION GAME - #4 UMPI vs. #2 SUNY CANTON
The Roos had the possession advantage early in the game, but had troubles finding a good look against the UMPI defense. In the 17th minute SUNY Canton was finally able to get a good look on goal as Edward Malinoski Jr. (SO, Evans Mill, NY) led Austin Brault (SO, Peru, NY) perfectly with a crossing pass, and Brault was able to put the ball in the net. Just a few minutes later Malinoski Jr. would set up Maurizio Paniconi (JR, Carolina, Puerto Rico) for the second goal of the game. On the very next possession, the Roos put pressure on the Owls again. This time it looked as though UMPI was going to avoid the trouble as a crossing pass was tipped off the mark by the keeper. Paniconi would end up in the right spot at the right time as he would collect the loose ball and fire it into the net. In the 24th minute the Roos would build on their lead as Kingsley Owusu (FR, Accra, Ghana) would assist Nick Magliano (JR, Farmingville, NY) to put SUNY Canton up four.
The second half was more the same as SUNY Canton would control possession for much of the second half. Neither team would be able to press the issue until late in the game when Erdous Lebron (JR, San Juan, PR) would tack on a goal in the 80th minute.
The 5-0 win gives the SUNY Canton Roos the ACAA Consolation Champion.
WOMEN'S CHAMPIONSHIP GAME - #3 UMPI vs. #1 SUNY CANTON
The Roos would set the pace early, limiting the offensive opportunities for the Owls. SUNY Canton would open the scoring in the 19th minute as Kirstina DiNardo (JR, Ottawa, ON) would steal the ball and find herself in the open with a one-on-one situation and she cashed in by putting the ball in the lower right corner of the net. Just a couple minutes later the Roos would add to their lead. This time it would be Ryley Scott (FR, Warrensburg, NY) would fire one into the back of the net and the Roos had an early 2-0 lead. SUNY Canton would dominate possessin in the first half, outshooting the Owls 16-1 and taking that two goal lead into the intermission.
The Owls made adjustments and put some pressure on the Roo defense in the second half, and would outshoot SUNY Canton 10-6. Despite the adjustment, the Owls would be shutout on the day, and fall 2-0. Kelsi Gillbert (SO, Colton, NY) would earn the shutout win in the net for SUNY Canton, as they would take the ACAA Championship.
MEN'S CHAMPIONSHIP GAME - #3 PINE MANOR vs. #1 ALFRED STATE
The tournament finale would start off as a high energy back-and-forth affair as the two teams traded opportunities in the first half. It wouldn't be until the 30th minute that the scoreless tie would be broken by Hakeem Duncan (SO, Miramar, FL) as he would head in a ball off of a beautiful centering pass from Daniel Alanis (SO, Glendale, AZ). In the 37th minute Duncan would add to that lead as he intercepted an attempt to clear the ball away from the net and chaptalized, putting the ball in the back of the net. The game would go to break with Pine Manor up 2-0.
The game would take a similar pace in the second half, with both teams getting even shots at the goal. Neither team would crack the scoreboard however, and the Gators would go on to a 2-0 victory. Oscar Estrada (JR, North Port, FL) would collect seven saves in the victory.
With the victory Pine Manor was crowned the ACAA Men's Champion in 2016.
