The Dunkirk Observer analyzed last night's game in today's sports section...
For the second straight night, the Fredonia State Blue Devils men's hockey team ended their game with a 3-3 tie.
However, this time the Blue Devils came from behind on two different occasions to knot the game up with Brockport, but Fredonia never led.
"Coming from behind to get the tie makes it a little better," Fredonia State coach Jeff Meredith said. "We had to battle back to make it 2-2, then we had to battle back to make it 3-3. I like the way we kept battling back."
The Blue Devils had an opportunity to take the lead when just over five minutes into the game, Bryan Ross went undefended into Brockport territory with the puck. The breakaway was unsuccessful, leaving the Golden Eagles the opportunity to draw first blood.
Brockport did just that when Gregg Amato got a fortunate deflection to open the scoring for the visitors.
Luckily for Fredonia, the team was able to score the equalizer just before the first intermission.
On a 2-on-1 breakaway, James Muscatello netted his 12th goal of the season off an Alex Morton assist. Morton's assist gave him his 30th point of the season to lead the Blue Devils.
The goal came with just 1:12 left before the break, but Fredonia still found some time to get themselves into trouble, as they picked up two quick penalties, which carried over into the second period.
With a 5-on-3 advantage for the Golden Eagles, Brockport was able to create some scoring opportunities, including a shot that rang off the post with just 20-seconds off the clock.
In a big momentum swing, Fredonia's penalty kill was able to fend off the barrage of shots coming from Brockport.
"I thought we played well," Meredith said. "Killing off the penalties to start the second period was huge for us. After that, we had almost 16 straight minutes of all us, but we just couldn't score one."
The over aggressiveness of Brockport continued to allow Fredonia some odd-man-rush scoring chances, but a shut-down performance by the Golden Eagle's Todd Sheridan kept the second period scoreless, going into the third period 1-1.
"Brockport's goalie is the best in the league," Meredith said. "Without him in net it wouldn't have been the same 3-3 game."
The third period came with an explosion, each team scoring two a piece.
With just 33-seconds gone off the clock, Amato scored his second of the game, giving Brockport a 2-1 advantage.
With 6:09 left in the final period, Fredonia got back in the game with a goal by Brett Mueller.
Steve Rizer took a long slap shot as Mueller was falling down and the puck bounced off his skate into the net to tie the game at 2-all.
Less than two minutes later, James Cody netted the go-ahead goal for Brockport. Fredonia picked up the pace, trying to get another shot at the tying goal.
"This was a good team effort," Meredith said. "Each team picked up a point tonight so we stay put in the standings."
Morton picked up the goal on a put-back shot with 1:26 left in regulation. Recording assists on the play were Muscatello and Ross.
Despite a number of shots in the overtime period, the Blue Devils were not able to pull ahead. The tie leaves the team three points ahead in the SUNYAC standings over Brockport, who is in third place.
Source:
http://www.observertoday.com/page/content.detail/id/535693.html?nav=5010
