SUNY Cortland can put the stamp on their solid weekend with a win over Niagara this weekend. 

Cortland is 6-0 and Niagara, 5-1-1, having played one more game, is the only team in the Upstate NY Men’s DII conference that can catch them in them

Cortland already got by their other main rivals, SUNY Oswego, getting a try from lock Bryan Carley in the closing moments. Carley has been an excellent leader for the team, and is central to the forward effort. Brothers and backs Elliott (flyhalf) and Nate (wing) Butler have shown well in their first season on the A-side. But overall it’s been about Cortland’s defense. They have held opponents to 12 points a game. Inly Niagara, at 15 a game, is close to that stinginess.

So it could be a low-scoring clash this weekend. A win for Niagara puts them in 1st, but Cortland will have one more game in which to reclaim top spot.

As it is, the real battle in Upstate NY may be for 4th, the last playoff spot. Oswego has that at present, and as they play winless Fredonia, they should stay there. But Buffalo State, which has only one game left, can be caught by Geneseo or Ithaca.   

Geneseo plays LeMoyne this weekend, while Buff State has a bye. A week later, it’s Buffalo State against LeMoyne, while Geneseo contends with Cortland. Ithaca has RIT and Oswego.

And then RIT is the wild card team here. Early setbacks may have been enough to keep them out of the top four, but RIT’s recent results show they can’t be counted out. If RIT beats Ithaca and Frednia, and Buffalo State falters against LeMoyne, then you might see a surprise playoff lineup.