The College at Brockport Hockey team scored three times in the first
period en route to a 4-1 victory over Fredonia Friday night in
Brockport. The victory coupled with Cortland and Potsdam losses
against Plattsburgh and Oswego respectively earned the Golden Eagles a
spot in the State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC)
playoff for the third time in the last six years.
Brockport (9-12-3 Overall, 6-8-1) are currently tied for fifth in the conference standings with 13 points with Fredonia but hold the tie breaker criteria over the Blue Devils. The Golden Eagles clinched at least a sixth place finish with the win over Fredonia and secured a spot in the opening round of the SUNYAC Tournament that starts Wednesday, February 26. The third seed in the tournament will host the sixth place team and the No. 4 seed will host the fifth place team on the 26th. If the regular season finished today, the Golden Eagles would travel to Buffalo State and Fredonia would play at Oswego in the first round games.
The Golden Eagles advance to the SUNYAC tournament for the first time since the 2009-10 season.
Against Fredonia (6-11-6, 4-6-5), Brockport struck early and often. Chris Luker
(New Hartford, NY) opened the scoring midway through the first period
skating in on the right side before taking a cross-ice pass and snapping
home a quick shot for the 1-0 Brockport lead. Chris Cangro (Holbrook, NY) and Jake Taylor (Port Perry, ONT) were credited with assists on the play.
Less than a minute later, Brockport made it a 2-0 lead as Jonathan Demme (Brampton, ONT) fired a shot from a couple steps inside the blue line over the leg pad of the Fredonia goalie. Taylor was in on the scoring again as was defenseman Chad Cummings (Caledon, ONT).
The Golden Eagles were not done scoring in the first period. A power play opportunity shortly after Demme's goal led to another Brockport goal and a 3-0 lead. Bobby Chayka (Hardwick, NJ) took a hard shot from the point and Jesse Facchini (Mississauga, ONT) tipped in the shot under the Blue Devil goalie.
With five minutes remaining in the second period, Brockport made it a 4-0 lead as Cangro added a goal. Taylor picked up his third assist of the night on the play along with Chase Nieuwendyk (Georgetown, ONT).
Fredonia got on the board early in the third period to make it 4-1 but the Brockport defense continued to shine through the final period allowing just six shots in the period.
Aaron Green (Mt. Albert, ONT) needed to make just 17 saves on the night to earn his third consecutive victory and sixth of the season.
