Brockport gets weekend split against Manhattanville

 The Brockport Ice Hockey team (7-10, 5-4-1 UCHC) rode five unanswered goals to a victory over Manhattanville (3-13-1, 2-6 UCHC) on the road, 5-1, on Saturday, January 25th. The Golden Eagles split the season series with the Valiants, bouncing back from a 5-2 lost on Friday.

Dax Easter (W, 2-4) was a gamechager between the pipes for Brockport, making 32 saves on the afternoon, stopping 97% of the shots he faced on the afternoon. Easter's lone goal allowed came on the power play, saving all 26 shots faced at even strength.    

The Golden Eagles thrived in the face-off department, winning 33 of 62 draws. Sacha Trudel (8-11) and Joshua Prystal (11-19) provided strong efforts in the face-off circle.

The first period would see Brockport create numerous scoring chances, with the Green and Gold out shooting Manhattanville 17-8 across the first 20 minutes. Despite the advantage in the shots department, a late power play would see the home team strike first. At the 16:40 mark of the period, Lucas Baksay would put Manhattanville ahead 1-0, a lead that the Valiants would take into intermission. 

Brockport would come out of the first intermission energized, finding the equalizer less than two minutes into the period. Nick Reif continued his goal scoring run, with his eighth goal of the season tying the game at 1-1 with 18:08 left in the second period. Micheal Kull would provide the assist on Brockport's opening goal. Much like the home team in the first period, Brockport would cause damage late in the period.

Great puck movement from Matthew Lee and Brody Seitz would set up Manny Sanchez on the power play, putting Brockport up 2-1 at the 18:19 mark of the second period. The Golden Eagles would strike again just 24 seconds later, with Josh Grund finding Spencer Flansburg to give Brockport a two goal edge entering the third period. Easter was crucial to Brockport's success in the period, making a game-high 14 saves in the second. 

The Golden Eagles would keep up the pressure in the final 20 minutes, holding Manhattanville without a even strength goal. Over halfway through the third period, Victor Malzahn would light the lamp from the defensemen spot, with Aidan Taylor adding the assist to put Brockport up 4-1. Despite pulling the goalie at the 15:01 mark, Manhattanville would be unable to record a shot on goal, seeing Schuyler Flansburg cash in the empty net goal for Brockport.

10 different Golden Eagles would finish with a point, seeing defensemen Kyle Kussmann and Victor Malzahn lead the pack with a +3 rating. Manny Sanchez and Victor Malzahn led the team with five shots each, both lighting the lamp for the Golden Eagles.