Record-Setting Season for Spartans

It was a groundbreaking 2024 for Cayuga Community College Men's Soccer, as the team completed its first undefeated regular season in program history before falling in a nailbiter in the playoffs.

Climbing from an unranked start to the #2 spot in the national rankings, the Spartans toppled four top-10 teams while setting a handful of program and individual records. Cayuga featured a potent attack and one of the best defenses in the nation, scoring close to six goals and surrendering less than one per match.

The stellar season earned several Spartans and Coach Chris Davison conference, regional and national accolades, even as the team knows they didn't quite reach their goal of competing for a national championship.

"This was a tremendous team, and I'm proud of everything they accomplished together and as individuals," said Davison. "Capturing a conference title and finishing with the best record in Region III are great achievements. I wish we had been able to extend the season a little more, but that doesn't change how I feel about this group and what they did at Cayuga."

Cayuga announced itself early in the season with a 2-0 away win over then-#5 Genesee Community College. The Spartans recorded shutouts in five of their first six wins, with the lone goal coming in another away win, this time a 2-1 triumph over #2 Mohawk Valley Community College. The Spartans would go on to earn home wins over #7 Onondaga Community College and eventual #8 Finger Lakes Community College. 

Cayuga completed the regular season with a perfect 14-0 mark, which earned them the top seed in the Region III playoffs. After a close 4-3 win in the semifinals over Jamestown Community College, the Spartans fell 2-1 in the regional finals against the Hawks. Mohawk Valley would go on to win the national championship.

The Spartans' 15-1 record and perfect regular season were both best in program history, and the team also set records for fewest goals allowed in a season, fewest goals allowed at home and on the road, and most team assists. Their 6-0 mark against Mid-State Athletic Conference teams earned them the conference title.

Individually, the Spartans were led by first-team All-American Jake Botterill, second-team All-American Will Fearon, and Region III honorees Matt Manton, Kai Reading, Reece Harper, Bigad Sid (all second-team All-Region), and Jordan Mati (third-team All-Region).

Botterill, who twice led the NJCAA Division III in goals scored, finished his career at Cayuga with a program-best 69 goals scored. He scored 38 goals in 2024, and was fourth nationally with 20 assists. He was also named Region III and Mid-State Athletic Conference Player of the Year.

Fearon was one of Cayuga's top defenders while finishing third nationally with 22 assists. Manton and Reading joined Fearon in a Spartans' defense that surrendered only 12 goals and recorded nine shutouts, both of which were fourth in the nation.

Sid led the Spartans and was second nationally with 22 assists, while finishing second on the team with 12 goals. Harper had 11 goals, while Mati and Reading added 13 and 12 assists, respectively.

Davison, himself a former All-American, was named Region III Coach of the Year.