For the fifth straight season the Genesee Community College men's soccer team will play for a Region III title after the No. 1 nationally-ranked Cougars rolled Mohawk Valley CC in the regional semifinals on Tuesday night, 8-0.
A pair of hat tricks sparked the No. 1 seed, which is now just three goals away from tying the all-time National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) single season mark for goals in a season (134).
Ricard Fernandez-Sarro and William Stone each scored three times for Genesee, with Fernandez-Sarro getting tallies in the 2nd, 5th and 49th minutes and Stone scoring in the 32nd, 41st and 48th minutes.
The Cougars' defense provided another strong effort, holding the Hawks to just two shots on goal. Connor Halsted and Lee Payne split time in net and made one save apiece.
Victor Obetta-Chinenye added two second half goals for the Cougars, in the 75th and 77th minutes respectively.
Stone also had two assists in the game and Fernandez-Sarro, Rafael Godoi, Sam King and Joao Falco each had an assist apiece.
The win, Genesee's 18th of the season, is the new school record for most wins in a single season. The Cougars will play the winner of No. 4 SUNY Broome and No. 12 Niagara County CC (Oct. 28) in the regional finals on Saturday at noon at Herkimer College.
