Cortland Quotes

Senior Goalie Matt Hipenbecker

On facing close shots
We work on it everyday in practice. Coach [Matt] O'Connell, who warms me up everyday, always changes the angles of shots; comes around goal line extended, fakes high shoots high, fakes high shoots low. Something he's been telling me lately is 'stay high, these kids like to shoot high.' When they came around, I just matched stick on stick and made the save.

On Cortland's defense in the second quarter
I think the thing that was lacking in the first quarter with our defense was communication. That's been a big of emphasis this whole year. When I was in the cage, I just didn't hear any talk. Usually when I'm in goal I hear everybody; what everybody's going to do, so everyone else knows what they're going to do. Second quarter, Coach told us that's what we were missing. We stepped it up, we started talking and causing turnovers. When you know when the first, second, third slide is going to be you can go push out and be aggressive. I think communication is what led to our defense stepping up.

Junior Midfielder Brandon Misiaszek, Most Outstanding Player

On confidence gained by not being defended by the long pole
I was going hard all game. Then they didn't switch the pole to me and I felt like I could take the shorty and I did.

On his up-and-down season
It was a little up and down. There were periods of time where I would take dodges and I wouldn't go as hard. I'd drift dodge a little bit. Coach would get on me and tell me to go hard. And I finally listened to him.

Head Coach Steve Beville

Opening Statement
"Hats off to Head Coach Janczyk and Gettysburg for the season they had and the run that they went on at the end of the year and we are very proud and happy to have played such a great team and to have come out on top."

On Brandon Misiaszek play in the championship game:
"He played outstanding. There's a reason why he was selected as the most outstanding player of the game today because his performance was just that. It's been like that all year with us: You pick your poison, they put a pole on (Joey) Morgan, they bumped up to DeLuca a couple of times and I think Brandon said 'if you're not going to pole me I'll tear into you' and he did just that having the game of his career."

On stopping the Gettysburg offense in the second and third:
"We bumped a pole on top, G offense was generated by their Middies so we bumped up (Luke) Lemon to (Tom) O'Donnell or Danno Lynch and I think that took them out of their rhythm. It certainly helps that Matt Hipenbecker had an outstanding game today, he held his pipe and made it very very tough for them to score too so I think goalie was a huge part of us stopping them for two quarters."

On Brandon Misiaszek's season:
"It's hard for me to do that because I've been with him for three years and I've watched him grow and progress as a man and as a player. This year Brandon had a few ups and downs but overall he was very consistent leader for us on and off the field and that's what I was really happy to see… Being a positive influence to the younger guys all year round. He's had some big games this year and he saved his biggest one for today and he was unstoppable. As long as he did what he did in the national championship game I guess I don't care what happens in the 19 other games this season."

On getting to the national championship this season:
"We're very fortunate to have a lot of things that we have at Cortland, so as long we've got things that we got, we're always going to have a shot and as long as we play as a team. This team played more like a team than other team I've coached in my 25 years."

Gettysburg Quotes

Senior Goalie Zach Furshman

On the play of Cortland State goalie Matt Hipenbecker:
"He played really well today. We thought that if we shot within the pipes or right on the pipes we were going to get some good shots and score but he played well. He was very energetic in goal and even after he made a save, we had an opportunity here and there and he would make another save. He was really good today."

Senior Attack Zach Pucci

On his senior season:
"The season started off pretty slow. We weren't worried at the beginning of the season, we were just wondering what was going on. Every game we just figured out the kinks and got better and better from then on. It came up to today where I still think we played pretty well. Sometimes the shots didn't go our way but it was a long season, we had a nice long run and it could have happened today but it wasn't our day."

Head Coach Hank Janczyk

Opening Statement:

"I'm really proud of my team. It was looking pretty grim for us after that third period. I thought we played a real tough fourth period. I thought we fought our way into some really good shots. I think their goalie made some great saves. I give Cortland a lot of credit. We had to make some pretty good adjustments at halftime to clear the ball, and I think our kids did a much better job. In the last eight or nine minutes, we really had some great opportunities. We didn't hit, and they hit in the third period, and that seems to be the story of the game.

On why they weren't able to score after the first period until the fourth:

"I think a couple of things happened. I think they rode pretty well, and we had to work real hard to clear the ball. So we worked so hard to clear the ball, we finally got it in, and we lost a little poise. It's interesting when you have to work that hard. You're finally beating the 20 seconds, and you're finally beating the 10. They did a great job riding us, and I think that affected us in that second period a little bit. The other thing is they held the ball a long time. Not held it. They respected the ball, so when they got it, they would have runs of two minutes. Sometimes when that happens, when you get it back, you get a little itchy. I thought we lost a little composure then. We took an okay shot instead of pushing the ball for the great shot. I think those are the two things that were really important.

On if he thought he needed to move the pole against Cortland's Brandon Misiaszek:

"We can be honest with you. He had two shots that were pretty good. His game really surprised us, to be honest with you. We thought that he was the third guy on that line. I probably still do, even though he had five goals today. We have a pretty good pole. He did a great job and I think one of the premiere midfielders in the country. I still think we would probably still do the same for sure. I think the kid came up big a few times."