The Golden Eagles have a busy week ahead of them, taking the ice on three occasions. On Wednesday they travel to Worcester, Massachusetts to take on Assumption. On Friday they host Potsdam and on Saturday Plattsburgh comes to town.
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The Assumption Greyhounds (a rare DII opponent for Brockport) will be a perfect non-conference workout for Brockport prior to the nerve-wracking SUNYAC weekend. Both teams seem to match up well, Brockport sitting on an 8-8 record and Assumption a 7-7 record. But, Assumption’s success came against lesser opponents, the only team of any consequence they’ve faced is Manhattanville who beat the Greyhounds 6-1. So, it is difficult to really figure out just how good of a team they really are.
But, they do have some talent, especially on their top line. Sophomore Pat O’Kane, a small but lightening-quick right winger, has been one of the best players in NCAA this year. He already has 16 goals on the season and he has been dangerous on special teams, netting 6 power play goals and 3 short-handed goals. His linemate Taylor Larsen has 23 points on the season (9 goals and 14 assists) is another one who must be accounted-for. Assumption is solid in net, too, with Nick Blanchette posting a .909 saves percentage.
It should be an exciting game.
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Brockport opened the season against Potsdam and, after having dominated the Bears in a 3-1 playoff match-up only months earlier, expected a victory. The GE’s were upset, though, by a score of 6-3. But, the game was close for quite a while, Brockport having led 3-2 at the halfway point. The subsequent 4 goal deluge left a bad taste in their mouth they plan to eliminate this weekend by giving the Bears a taste of their own medicine.
Potsdam is 7-7-2 overall and best compared to 8-8 Brockport. While Brockport is 3-5-0 in the SUNYAC and sitting in 5th place, Potsdam is in 4th, sporting a 3-4-1 mark in conference play. Brockport has scored 50 goals on the season and Potsdam his lit the lamp 55 times. Brockport is slightly better defensively, allowing 55 scores on the year. Potsdam has allowed 64. So, it looks to be a close game, one that will carry huge importance for the February playoffs.
Their two best players are Connor Treacy (8 goals, 19 assists) and Todd Hosmer (11 goals and 13 assists). Fraser Smith is a pretty solid player, too (8 and 8) who had a 16-goal season last year. Trevor O’Neill mans the net and posts an .879 saves percentage. In his last appearance he allowed 7 Elmira goals in only 2 periods of work.
Brockport should be victorious on home ice but it will be hard-fought.
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The Plattsburgh Cardinals are their usual powerful selves and rated fourth in DIII. But, if it’s any consolation, they aren’t as indestructible as they have been in recent years, posting a 10-2-3 record. The Cardinals aren’t as offensively-frightening up front as in the past with Eric Satim their only player with more than 16 points (he has 23 points and has scored 10 times). But, they are more well-balanced in scoring than in seasons past: Everyone seems to chip in (19 players have 5 or more points), hence the 4.80 goals scored per game, 6th best in the nation.
It’s on defense where they shine…dominate actually. They have the second best defense in all of DIII, allowing a miniscule 1.73 goals per game. With a killer D like that, they play goal by committee with Williams and Leis having identical numbers of .935 and 1.53 GAA. Neither of them have been tested this year and it’s unknown how they can handle pressure.
Brockport can make it a close game – if not an upset – by taking it to the net and using their physical play to throw the defensemen off. If Brockport plays conservatively and contact-free, a Plattsburgh victory is guaranteed.
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All three games can be heard on WBSU at 89.1 FM and online at www.891thepoint.com. They can also be watched at www.FastHockey.com
