Hallberg finished six seconds ahead of the second-place finisher Oliver Melera-Perez of New Paltz.

As a team, the Devils took second place, just seven points behind Cortland (60-67). Kevin Moser finished ninth and Lucas Peterson-Volz was 13th for the Blue Devils.

Hallberg became the first Blue Devil to win the men’s cross country title since Vinnie Derocco did it in 2000. Last year, Hallberg finished third overall.

The Blue Devils also finished ahead of fourth-place Buffalo State, thus winning points toward the Battle by the Lake.

Photo courtesy of Fredonia State Athletics The Fredonia State hockey team lost a season-opening two-game series at Steele Hall to SUNY Potsdam on Friday and Saturday.

Siera Shenoy was once again the top Blue Devils finisher for the women’s team. The freshman crossed the finish line of the 6K course at the SUNYAC Championships in a time of 25:43.4, placing her 37th overall. As a team, the Devils were 10th out of 12 conference squads.

Amilcar Centeno (Dunkirk) was second on the team and 47th overall in 26:59.0. Juliana Rodriguez was the third Blue Devil to finish, crossing in 27:00.4 and placing 48th.

Melissa Innocent of Cortland led the Red Dragons to a first-place finish with a time of 21:40.8

SOCCER

FREDONIA — Both the Fredonia State men’s and women’s soccer teams pulled off 1-0 first-round wins in the SUNYAC Tournament this past Saturday to advance to the semifinal round today.

Next up for the men is a short trip up Interstate 90 to Buffalo State. The ladies have a bit further to go, with an overnight trip to Plattsburgh.

MEN’S SOCCER

Earlier the season, the men fell 2-1 at Buffalo State, with the game-winning goal coming via a penalty kick in the 67th minute.

“Advancing in the SUNYAC playoffs is no small task so we are ecstatic to be moving on,” said Blue Devils head coach P.J. Gondek. “We were not at our best against Plattsburgh but we were able to defend and find a late goal. Buffalo State is certainly a formidable opponent having only lost once this year. After a sluggish first half last time around, we were able to tie the game and after a back-and-forth second half giving up the penalty was the difference. As one of the top teams in our region with one of the top scorers in the country this is a tough matchup for sure, but a team that we are very familiar with.”

On the season, Fredonia State has outscored opponents 32-20 while Buffalo State has outscored opponents 50-10.

The top players for the Blue Devils have been Chance LaCroix (5 goals, 7 assists); Freddie Butler (5 goals, 2 assists); Sam Evans (2 goals, 5 assists); and Ryan Ameis (4 goals).

Buffalo State’s top players have been Diego Rivera (25 goals, 8 assists, SUNYAC’s leading scorer); Lehsedi Sekhobo (4 goals, 3 assists); and Sam Gregson (4 goals, 1 assist).

In net, the Blue Devils feature Thomas McDonald (8-5-2, 72 saves, 1.08 goals-against average, 6 total shutouts) while the Bengals feature Carson Smith (11-1-5, 46 saves, 0.59 goals-against average, 8 total shutouts).

WOMEN’S SOCCER

The women did not fare well in their first time around vs. their upcoming opponent, falling to the Cardinals 5-0 back on Sept. 20. However, since that time, the team has gone 8-1-2 and led the conference in goals scored in conference-only games.

On the season, Fredonia State has outscored opponents 36-23 and Plattsburgh has outscored opponents 26-15.

Players to watch for the Blue Devils include Bronwyn Madden (11 goals, leads SUNYAC); Gabby Irwin (6 goals, 9 assists leads SUNYAC); Anna Ratchuk (4 goals, 4 assists); Grace Mackey (3 goals, 3 assists); and Mckenna Szmarz (4 goals).

The Cardinals’ top players include Sydney Myers (10 goals, 5 assists — 25 points leads SUNYAC); Alana DeLaCruz (5 goals, 1 assist); and Bailee Lafountain (2 goals, 2 assists).

In net, Fredonia State will feature Casey Fetzner (7-4-2, 109 saves, 20 goals against, 1.51 goals-against average, 2 shutouts) or Abby Szymkowiak (3-1-2, 3 goals against, 0.50 goals-against average, 4 shutouts).

Plattsburgh’s goalkeepers include Lily Bailey (3-4-0, 26 saves, 11 goals against, 1.80 goals-against average, 2 combined shutouts); and Desiree Dubois (5-2-2, 28 saves, 4 goals against, 0.45 goals-against average, 7 total shutouts). As a team, the Cardinals have eight shutouts.

MEN’S ICE HOCKEY

FREDONIA — The Fredonia State hockey team dropped a two-game weekend series to SUNY Potsdam at Steele Hall.

On Saturday, the Blue Devils lost 4-3 to the visiting Bears. The Blue Devils got two goals from Mathieu Fournier and one from Ethan Pitzman. Jameson Kaine had 19 saves for the Blue Devils.

For the second straight night, Fredonia outshot Potsdam. This time the Blue Devils held a 32-23 advantage, but it would not result in more goals. Potsdam’s Lenny Perno made 29 saves.

Ryan Mahlmeister, Payton Felix, Jeremy Quesnel and Mason Hoehn each scored for the Bears.

The game did feature four power-play goals, two by each team.

The first period was scoreless. Potsdam took a 2-0 lead in the second frame. Fournier would cut the lead to one with an assist from Cash Anderson with 2:32 left in the second period.

Fournier tied the game 1:19 into the third with a power play. Pitzman assisted.

Felix then scored for the Bears as they took a 3-2 lead, before Pitzman’s goal tied things at 3-all with 4:46 left to play. Pitzman’s goal was on the power play and assisted by Xavier Fortin.

Potsdam again would use a man-advantage, this time for the game winner. Mahlmeister scored with 2:47 to go for the victory. It was his third goal of the weekend.

On Friday, Antoine St. Onge scored a pair of goals in the season opener, but the Blue Devils would not get any other offensive help, falling to Potsdam 4-2.

Potsdam scored first when Platon Krasnioarov connected 3:20 into the game for the only score of the first period.

St. Onge tied the game at 1-all 4:25 into the second period, but Potsdam answered with a quick score just under a minute later. Mahlmeister scored his first of two goals.

In the third, St. Onge again tied the game, this time at 2-all. He ripped a one-timer from about 25 feet out seven seconds into the frame. The momentum would be short-lived. Potsdam regained the lead 16 seconds later when Mahlmeister lit the lamp again as Potsdam would go back up, 3-2.

The Bears would tack on another third-period score by Quesnel to give the final.

Charles-Anthony Barbeau gave up four goals with 26 saves. Perno made 41 saves for the Bears, allowing two scores.

Freshmen Cameron Hudson and Josh Serino notched assists for Fredonia State.