The College at Brockport moved to 2-0 on the season Saturday night with a convincing 4-1 victory over the Neumann University Knights. The nine senior members of the ice hockey program were honored before the game for the hard work and dedication to Brockport hockey.
Danny Rock got the scoring started for the Green and Gold at the 03:58 mark of the first period, putting the team up 1-0. After a Dylan Shapiro shot went off the goaltenders pad, Rock was right there in front of the net to bury the rebound.
The Knights has some chances to even the score with a pair of power plays, but came up short as goaltender Matt Schneider saved all seven of the shots he faced in the stanza.
Both defenses clamped down for the majority of the second period, until the Golden Eagles notched another goal, this one coming on the power play from senior Aidan Verbeke. After receiving outlet passes from Rock and Casey Winn, the captain skated the puck around the net and snuck a wraparound chance past the Neumann goaltender to put Brockport up 2-0.
Connor Hutchins got into the action early in the third period with a goal assisted by Verbeke and Brandon McMartin, and added an assist on the final Golden Eagle tally. After receiving a pass near the faceoff circle, Hutchins slid a beautiful backhand touch pass through the crease and right to the stick of Zac Sikich who was there to send it past the goalie.
Joe Mitchell notched a goal for the Knights with less than three minutes to go, but it was to no avail as the Golden Eagles were able to hang on for the 4-1 victory.
Verbeke led the offensive charge with a goal and a pair of apples, while Hutchins (2), Rock (2), Sikich (1), Winn (1), and Shapiro (1) all recorded points as well.
Schneider kept the Knights off the board for the first 57:00 minutes of play, allowing the Golden Eagles to open up the big lead. The sophomore ended the game with 21 saves on 22 shots for a 95.5 save percentage.
