Golden Eagles look ahead to Potsdam

By: Brandon Wood
@Brandonwood27

Following a split weekend against SUNY Morrisville, the College at Brockport ice hockey team looks ahead to its next opponent: SUNYAC-worst SUNY Potsdam.

Brockport (5-9-3 overall, 2-5-1 SUNYAC) earned two of a possible four SUNYAC points this past weekend against Morrisville. The Golden Eagles defeated the Mustangs Friday, Jan. 24 7-3, but lost its four game undefeated streak the next night 6-3. That left Brockport in a tie with Morrisville for seventh place in the nine-team SUNYAC and two points behind SUNY Fredonia for the last playoff spot.

This coming weekend, Brockport continues SUNYAC play as it hosts Potsdam Friday, Jan. 31 and No. 4 SUNY Plattsburgh Saturday, Feb. 1. Both games are set for 7 p.m. puck drop at Tuttle North Ice Arena.

When Brockport faced Potsdam on the road in early November, the Golden Eagles won 6-3. Freshman Jake Taylor had two goals and sophomore Jesse Facchini had two assists. The next night, however, Brockport was shut out 6-0 by Plattsburgh's senior goalie Mathieu Cadieux, who currently is fifth nationally in goals against average (1.49) and seventh in save percentage (.941).

The Golden Eagles are looking to sweep their season series with Potsdam for the first time since the 2007-08 season. Conversely, Brockport looks beat Plattsburgh for the first time since its upset win at home Feb. 10, 2012.

Senior defenseman and Brockport captain Matt DeLuca said he doesn't see last place Potsdam as any different than any other team the Golden Eagles faces in conference play.

"I think this upcoming game against Potsdam will be a battle just like every other game," DeLuca said. "We have to have a great week of practice and be prepared for an absolute battle."

Brockport's loss Saturday to Morrisville ended the team's longest unbeaten streak since Friday, Jan. 15 to 22, 2010. The Golden Eagles had not lost in their previous four contests before that.

DeLuca said he thinks his team needs to continue playing as it has been recently to successfully make the SUNYAC playoffs.

"We need to put together a full 60 minutes like we have been doing," DeLuca said. "We're still on a roll here. It was tough play the same team back-to-back but we will be prepared for this weekend."

With just eight SUNYAC games remaining on Brockport's schedule this season, DeLuca said he thinks every game is equally important and that his team needs to look at every game as an opportunity to get two points.

"We need to approach every game with the same mentality," DeLuca said. "I know you're looking for specific games to sort of mark on the calendar [as more important] but if we take care of business every game then it doesn't matter who we're playing. We need to have the mentality that we need points every night."

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Here are the current SUNYAC Standings:

SUNYAC Standings (after Saturday, Jan. 25 games)

*2 points for a conference win, one point for a tie

1. SUNY Plattsburgh (8-0-2 SUNYAC) – 18 points

2. SUNY Geneseo (7-1) – 14 points

3. Buffalo State College (6-3-2) – 14 points

4. SUNY Oswego (5-3-1) – 11 points

5. SUNY Cortland (3-6-2) – 8 points

6. SUNY Fredonia (2-4-3) – 7 points

7. The College at Brockport (2-5-1) – 5 points

8. SUNY Morrisville (2-7-1) – 5 points

9. SUNY Potsdam (1-7) – 2 points