Junior Jeremy DeFazio
(Oakville, ONT) scored two goals leading The College at Brockport
Hockey team to its fifth straight victory as the Golden Eagles defeated
Southern New Hampshire University 3-1 in the first game of the second
semester Monday night in Tuttle North Ice Arena in Brockport.
The five straight wins ties the school record for consecutive victories. The Golden Eagles won five straight in 1973-74, again in 1980-81 and once more in 1987-88. The current streak started over the Thanksgiving break with a pair of wins over Tufts and Manhattanville in the Rutland Herald Tournament and continued in early December with the first consecutive shutouts in school history with a pair of 3-0 wins over SUNYAC foes Buffalo State and Fredonia. After nearly a month off, the Golden Eagles tied the school-record streak with the win over Southern New Hampshire.
Senior Aaron Green (Mt. Albert, ONT) stopped 25 shots but allowed a goal in the second period ending a school-record shutout streak at 186 minutes 46 seconds dating back to early in the second period against Manhattanville.
Brockport (7-5-1) opened the scoring late in the first period when DeFazio tipped in a shot from the point from Bobby Chayka (Hardwick, NJ). The play started when Andrew Parks (Orillia, ONT) sent a pass from behind the net out to Chayka at the blue line. Chayka's slap shot was wide to the right but DeFazio was there to redirect the puck into the back of the net for the 1-0 Brockport lead with less than four minutes to play in the first period.
In the second period, Southern New Hampshire (5-6) tied the score with a shorthanded goal on a breakaway after a pass was tipped out of the offensive zone and between the Brockport defensemen.
Midway through the third period, Brockport regained the lead as Troy Polino (Limerick, PA) Took a centering pass from behind the Southern New Hampshire goal and fired a one-timer past the goalie for the 2-1 Brockport lead. Aidan Verbeke (Elmwood Park, IL) had the centering pass and Jake Taylor (Port Perry, ONT) was also credited with an assist on the play.
Late in the third period, Brockport sealed the victory as DeFazio scored an empty-net goal with 26.5 seconds remaining after a long pass from Chayka for the final 3-1 margin.
Brockport will look to continue its win streak Saturday at Elmira College with a 7 pm game against the Soaring Eagles.
