A bitter end to a forgettable season
Brockport hockey ends the season by missing the playoffs for the first time since 2007
By Andy Lipari
For the first time in three years, Brockport's hockey season will finish with the end of the regular season. After back-to-back seasons with a playoff victory, the Golden Eagles took a leap back this year when expectations were the highest the program has ever had. Young players getting used to college hockey caused a slow start to Brockport's season, and put them in a hole they couldn't dig themselves out of.
In a two-day stretch that featured back-to-back conference road games, Brockport (2-13-1 SUNYAC, 4-18-3 overall) ran into tough competition, but showed up to play in both games.
They were defeated by Oswego - the No. 1 ranked team according to the United States College Hockey Organization - 7-1 on Friday, Feb. 18 and lost 5-3 to Cortland on Saturday, Feb. 19.
Brockport took the early lead against Oswego. Brendon Rothfuss found the back of the net two minutes into the game. But Oswego controlled the game from that point on.
Laker's leading scorer Ian Boots answered on the power play. Matt Singleton and Paul Rodrigues also scored for the Lakers in the first period.
Rodrigues scored again in the second. Owen Kelly, Laganiere and Boots all scored for the Lakers in the third period to push the score even further in their favor.
Joe Reagan had 45 saves in goal for Brockport in his final game of the season, and Paul Beckwith had an easy night with 18 saves for Oswego.
In the season finale at Cortland, Brockport took the lead first again. Ian Finnerty scored six minutes into the first period, but Joey Christiano and Jarrett Gold answered for Cortland in the first. Christiano and Gold also scored the two Cortland goals in the first meeting between these two teams.
Ryan Markell started the scoring in the second period for the Red Dragons. Brockport's Matt DeLuca scored his third goal of the season to cut Cortland's lead, 3-2.
But, less than two minutes later, Joel Zangara put the puck in the net for Cortland for a 4-2 lead.
Cortland and Brockport traded goals in the third period. Cortland's Jake Saville scored with six minutes left to give Cortland a 5-3 lead. With three minutes left, Brockport senior Tom Galiani scored on a penalty shot in his final game as a Golden Eagle.
Oliver Wren stopped 31 shots for Brockport in his final start of the season, and Dan Jewell had 40 saves for Cortland.
Looking back at Brockport hockey
2008-2009: 7-9 SUNYAC, 14-13 overall
• After a 3-1 home win against Potsdam, Brockport lost in the SUNYAC semifinals. The Eagles went down 7-2 against Plattsburgh.
2009-2010: 7-9 SUNYAC, 14-13 overall
• History repeats itself. The Eagles defeated SUNY Potsdam, 3-0, in another opening-round SUNYAC tournament home game. But a 2-5 loss to Plattsburgh kept Brockport from making the finals yet, again.
2010-2011: 2-13-1 SUNYAC, 4-18-3 overall
• Brockport started the season 0-10-1 until they won their first game on Dec. 4. The team looks to regroup and improve in the offseason and hopes to make a playoff run next season.
Brockport hockey ends the season by missing the playoffs for the first time since 2007
By Andy Lipari
For the first time in three years, Brockport's hockey season will finish with the end of the regular season. After back-to-back seasons with a playoff victory, the Golden Eagles took a leap back this year when expectations were the highest the program has ever had. Young players getting used to college hockey caused a slow start to Brockport's season, and put them in a hole they couldn't dig themselves out of.
In a two-day stretch that featured back-to-back conference road games, Brockport (2-13-1 SUNYAC, 4-18-3 overall) ran into tough competition, but showed up to play in both games.
They were defeated by Oswego - the No. 1 ranked team according to the United States College Hockey Organization - 7-1 on Friday, Feb. 18 and lost 5-3 to Cortland on Saturday, Feb. 19.
Brockport took the early lead against Oswego. Brendon Rothfuss found the back of the net two minutes into the game. But Oswego controlled the game from that point on.
Laker's leading scorer Ian Boots answered on the power play. Matt Singleton and Paul Rodrigues also scored for the Lakers in the first period.
Rodrigues scored again in the second. Owen Kelly, Laganiere and Boots all scored for the Lakers in the third period to push the score even further in their favor.
Joe Reagan had 45 saves in goal for Brockport in his final game of the season, and Paul Beckwith had an easy night with 18 saves for Oswego.
In the season finale at Cortland, Brockport took the lead first again. Ian Finnerty scored six minutes into the first period, but Joey Christiano and Jarrett Gold answered for Cortland in the first. Christiano and Gold also scored the two Cortland goals in the first meeting between these two teams.
Ryan Markell started the scoring in the second period for the Red Dragons. Brockport's Matt DeLuca scored his third goal of the season to cut Cortland's lead, 3-2.
But, less than two minutes later, Joel Zangara put the puck in the net for Cortland for a 4-2 lead.
Cortland and Brockport traded goals in the third period. Cortland's Jake Saville scored with six minutes left to give Cortland a 5-3 lead. With three minutes left, Brockport senior Tom Galiani scored on a penalty shot in his final game as a Golden Eagle.
Oliver Wren stopped 31 shots for Brockport in his final start of the season, and Dan Jewell had 40 saves for Cortland.
Looking back at Brockport hockey
2008-2009: 7-9 SUNYAC, 14-13 overall
• After a 3-1 home win against Potsdam, Brockport lost in the SUNYAC semifinals. The Eagles went down 7-2 against Plattsburgh.
2009-2010: 7-9 SUNYAC, 14-13 overall
• History repeats itself. The Eagles defeated SUNY Potsdam, 3-0, in another opening-round SUNYAC tournament home game. But a 2-5 loss to Plattsburgh kept Brockport from making the finals yet, again.
2010-2011: 2-13-1 SUNYAC, 4-18-3 overall
• Brockport started the season 0-10-1 until they won their first game on Dec. 4. The team looks to regroup and improve in the offseason and hopes to make a playoff run next season.
Source: http://media.www.thestylus.net/media/storage/paper1380/news/2011/02/23/Sports/A.Bitter.End.To.A.Forgettable.Season-3979544.shtml
