By Brandon Wood
@Brandonwood27
After an upset against SUNY Oswego last week that saw College at Brockport's ice hockey team beat the Lakers for the first time in 11 years, it will attempt to end another streak this week. Brockport hasn't defeated SUNY Fredonia in eight years, with its last win coming Jan. 29, 2005. Fredonia travels to Brockport Friday night with puck drop set for 7 p.m. at Tuttle North Ice Arena.
While there will be at least one lineup change for the Golden Eagles, Head Coach Brian Dickinson said Brockport's netminder will remain the same. After practice Thursday, Dickinson confirmed that junior Aaron Green will start in goal against Fredonia. Green started and won both games last weekend while making 72-of-77 saves.
"Anybody that knows me as a coach knows that I like to run with the hot guy going into the weekend," Dickinson said. "We've had weekends where we've dictated who's starting Friday and who's starting Saturday, but at this point the game is that important Aaron Green has earned the right to start the game and he will get the start against Fredonia."
Another adjustment to the lineup will be freshman forward Nick Marinac taking sophomore Michael Zagari's place in the lineup. Marinac played every SUNYAC game this season prior to last week's games against SUNY Cortland and Oswego. Marinac was forced to sit out the Cortland game due to suspension because of a slew-footing penalty he took at SUNY Geneseo the weekend before and the coaches decided to sit him for the Oswego game as well.
Marinac was rotating with Zagari on the team's second line with sophomore James Ryan and freshman Andrew Parks during Thursday's practice.
"Rather than just throwing him back in to the lineup, we made him earn his spot back and made him rotate with [Zagari] who was on that line last week," Dickinson said. "But [Marinac's] obviously an important piece to our first power play and if you want to win hockey games you're power play has to be running at full tilt.
"I expect [Marinac] to be back in, do a good job, and learn from his mistake of letting his emotions get to him and take a dumb penalty."
There could be one more adjustment to the Golden Eagles' lineup, as freshman forward Nate Pelligra did not participate in Thursday's contact drills at practice. Pelligra, who has a goal and three assists in 11 games since joining the team in January, was injured last Friday at Cortland but still played Saturday in Oswego. Pelligra aggravated the injury during Wednesday's practice and was held out of Thursday's for precaution.
Dickinson said Pelligra is a game-time decision and if he can't play sophomore Kody Vaisanen will take his spot in the lineup. Vaisanen played wing on the third line today during contact drills while sophomore Jesse Facchini centered him and senior Brendon Rothfuss.
Brockport tied the Blue Devils earlier this season when it traveled to Fredonia in December despite holding a two goal lead with less than seven minutes remaining. Fredonia scored with one minute remaining to tie the game.
Fredonia is last in the SUNYAC in goals per game having scored just 59 goals this season. Despite this, Fredonia still holds fifth place in the SUNYAC, two points ahead of the Golden Eagles. Dickinson said Fredonia finds success through its defense.
"I worked at Fredonia for five years as an assistant and we play the same way they play now," Dickinson said. "Good defense, solid goaltending, they pack it in and like to block a lot of shots. They don't give you a lot of second and third looks so we have to be patient to move the puck around."
Dickinson also stressed the importance of jumping out to an early lead and getting Fredonia on its heels.
"We have to get the lead, they're a team that you have to get the lead against," Dickinson said. "Then we need to keep pushing and get them out of their element. Then obviously what we need to do different from the first time is not fall apart in the third period and give them an opportunity to get back in the game."
The Golden Eagles, currently in sixth place in the SUNYAC by one point, have a chance to secure a playoff berth with a win and some help Friday night. In addition to winning, SUNY Potsdam needs to lose to No. 12 Oswego at home. By winning, Brockport would move into fifth place past Fredonia by tiebreaker.
Brockport could also clinch a playoff berth with a tie, a Potsdam loss and a Cortland loss to No. 4 SUNY Plattsburgh on the road.
The Golden Eagles close the season Saturday against Buffalo State College at home for Senior Night. The game is scheduled for 7 p.m.
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