The Golden Eagles had a good showing in conference play last weekend
when, on the road, they beat Buffalo State 4-2 and dropped a 1-0 nailbiter
against Fredonia.
The real test comes tonight when Brockport hosts the Oswego Lakers.
Oswego has started this season 2-0, and comes off a 24-4-2 season. The powerhouse
is ranked second in the nation in the USCHO DIII poll and went to the DIII
title game last year.
There’s a reason they’ve won the SUNYAC crown 3 years running: They do
everything well.
It starts at the backend where Andrew Hare minds the net. He had a .931
save percentage and 1.75 goals against average last year. He’s consistently
great and relatively unflappable: After 2 games this year, his save percentage
is identical to last year’s.
They have 9 men returning who
posted 20 or more points last season (among them 2 defenseman, which shows how
potent the Lakers are offensively). They
are led by Jon Whitelaw, who, had it not been for Brockport’s James Cody, would
have been the SUNYAC MVP last season after sporting a 19-22-41 line. He’s
joined by great talents in Paul Rodrigues (14-23-37) and Luke
Moodie, Sr., F (14-20-34). Moodie already has 3 goals and 5 assists after 2
games while Rodrigues has lit the lamp 4 times.
Last year, Brockport fell to the
Lakers by scores of 7-1 and 6-4. It would be considered a huge upset (akin to
last year’s victory against Plattsburgh) were Brockport to be victorious
tonight.
Saturday’s game will be a little
more competitive as Cortland graces Tuttle North Ice Arena. With 2 games under
their belt this season (both losses) they will be hungry for a win. Whether
they can get that is a different story: they finished last in the conference
last season and were picked to be there again this season. They were 6-18-1
last season and had only 3 players with more than 15 points, capped off by Adam
Bevilacqua’s 7-15-22 line. He returns for his senior year and is joined by Michael
Lysyj and AJ Moyer who each have 2 goals on the young season. A player to watch
is senior Chris Kaleta (the brother of the Sabres’ Patrick Kaleta) who has
always been a thorn in Brockport’s side. He has 2 goals this season after
netting 5 last year. Their #1 goalie
will likely be Mike Reilly, who claimed a 4.64 goals-against average and .873
save percentage last year.
It will be an easier game for
Brockport, but still, as with all SUNYAC games, it will be hard fought. A team
like Cortland cannot be taken for granted. Brockport has to win a game like
Saturday’s in order to keep pace in the SUNYAC, especially with a schedule that
is light on conference home games in the second semester. If they let a lead
against Cortland slip through their hands it will be looked at a lost
opportunity come February…that’s how important all SUNYAC games are.
Both games start at 7:00. See you at
Tuttle North!
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