Brockport (7-12-3 overall, 4-8-1 SUNYAC) rallied to score three goals in the next 5:04 to take a 4-3 lead early in the third period. The win gave Brockport two conference points, passing Cortland by one point to take the sixth and final playoff spot with just three regular season games on its schedule.
Junior Aaron Green started in net for Brockport, and he was tasked with making several big saves throughout the contest. In the first period and a half, Cortland had three breakaway chances and a goal that was waived off because Green's mask fell off and the whistle blew before the puck went into the net. Green stoned two Cortland players on a breakaway, and the third went over the goal.
Green finished the game with 27 saves for Brockport.
With the game tied at one after the first period, Cortland scored twice in the first 10 minutes of the second period.
With the game tied at one after the first period, Cortland scored twice in the first 10 minutes of the second period.
The comeback began when junior defenseman Bobby Chayka found some room down the left side of the ice and backhanded a shot over Cortland's goalie Mark Balkwill to make it 3-2 Cortland heading into the second intermission.
It was clear the ice was tilted in Brockport's favor early in the third as sophomore forward Chase Nieuwendyk and senior forward Chris Cangro found themselves in a two-on-one situation. Nieuwendyk passed the puck across the crease and Cangro easily found his fourth goal of the season to tie the game.
Less than 1:30 later, Brockport took its first lead of the game when sophomore defenseman Chris Luker blasted a shot from the point that found the back of Cortland's net. It was Luker's seventh goal of the season and ended up being the game-winning goal.
Brockport's power play, which entered the game 0-for-its-last-9, failed to convert on two chances earlier in the game, leading to the team's longest stretch of the season without a power-play goal at 11. Brockport entered the game with the ninth best power play in Division III hockey.
The drought would end at 11, as freshman James Ryan hit a shot from the top of the right circle to make the game 5-3.
------------
While Brockport now sits in a playoff position and controls its own destiny, there is still a tough hill to climb as it faces a brutal schedule over its last three games:
Saturday, Feb. 15 at nationally ranked No. 9 Oswego. Brockport hasn't defeated the Lakers in more than 10 years, and the environment in Laker Hall is one of the best in the SUNYAC.
Friday, Feb. 21 at home against SUNY Fredonia. Strange as it seems, Brockport hasn't defeated the Blue Devils since Jan. 29, 2005 in a 4-0 win at home.
Saturday, Feb. 22 at home for senior night against Buffalo State College. Brockport has lost five of its last seven games against Buffalo State, including being drubbed by the Bengals 6-1 earlier on the road this season.
------------
Sophomore Michael Zagari, who played in place of freshman forward Nick Marinac because he was suspended, recorded an assist against Cortland. Zagari received the secondary assist on Luker's game-winning goal in the third period.
-----------
SUNYAC UPDATE
Around the league tonight:
Buffalo State College clinched a playoff berth tonight by tying 2-2 at SUNY Fredonia.
SUNY Morrisville was officially eliminated from playoff contention by squandering a 3-0 lead at SUNY Potsdam. Potsdam scored late in the second period and three third period goals to eliminate the Mustangs.
SUNY Geneseo defeated Oswego 3-2 on the road tonight. By losing, Oswego can't win the SUNYAC regular season title. The last time that happened was the 2007-08 season.
------------
Here's a full look at the SUNYAC Standings:
*Two points for wins, one point for a draw
1. No. 6 SUNY Plattsburgh (11-1-2 SUNYAC) – 24 points
2. SUNY Geneseo (11-2) – 22 points
3. No. 9 SUNY Oswego (7-4-1) – 17 points
4. Buffalo State College (6-4-3) – 15 points
5. SUNY Fredonia (4-5-4) – 11 points
6. The College at Brockport (4-8-1) – 9 points
7. SUNY Cortland (3-8-2) – 8 points
8. SUNY Potsdam (2-8-2) - 6 points
9. SUNY Morrisville (2-11-1) – 5 points
Here's a composite schedule for tomorrow's games (Saturday, Feb. 15):
Brockport at Oswego, 7 p.m.
Geneseo at Cortland, 7 p.m.
Morrisville at Potsdam, 7 p.m.
No comments:
Post a Comment