Saturday, January 4, 2020

A big comeback for Brockport

The College at Brockport men's hockey team rallied from a 4-2 third period deficit with three unanswered goals in the final 5:30 of action to earn a thrilling 5-4 non-conference victory over visiting Neumann University on Friday night. Danny Rock netted his first goal of the season with just 21 seconds left in regulation to lift the Golden Eagles past the Knights in their first game back following the holiday break.  Rock's goal was a bullet from the point that ricocheted off the post, then the Neumann goalie's back and into the net to hand the Golden Eagles a one goal lead with 21 seconds left.

Brockport snapped a four game skid and improved to 6-6 overall on the season, while Neumann's record fell to 3-8 overall.  The box score featured five different goal scorers for the Golden Eagles, while 11 different players registered at least one point for the home team.

Danny Rock posted one goal and one assist, while Chris Pollini added three helpers for the home team.  Connor Hutchins also chipped in with two assists.  Neumann's Barry Kneedler led the way for the visitors with a hat-trick to give him eight goals on the year.

The first period saw the home team outshoot the visitors 14-5, but both teams came up empty as the score was set at 0-0 following 20 minutes of action.

Neumann got on the board first early in the second period as Kneedler netted his first of the day just 3:39 into the period on the power-play.

Brockport's Hunter Laslo answered with his third of the season to knot the score at 1-1 off assists from Mitchell Parsons and Chris Pollini. The score stood at 1-1 after two full periods of play.

The third period featured a combined seven goals between the two teams.  Kneedler gave the visitors a 2-1 lead just 2:29 into the third period, but the home team answered right back when Ethan Solat netted his third of the year off assists from his brother Jeremy Solat and Pollini.

Neumann then took advantage of a five minute non-releasable power-play to net two goals with a man advantage just 1:51 apart to take a commanding 4-2 lead with just over seven minutes to go in the contest.  Evan Hoey and Kneedler were credited with the Knight goals.

Trevor Pray got the Golden Eagles going in the third period when he netted his second of the year to make it a one goal game, 4-3, with 5:30 to go in regulation.  Hutchins and Doc Gentzler each registered an assist on Pray's goal.

Ryan Romeo then knotted the score at 4-4 with 1:45 to go in the contest as he posted his fifth goal of the season off assists from Rock and Jake Colosanti.

It appeared as if the game might extend into extra time, until Brockport fought hard to keep possession and eventually worked the puck in front to Danny Rock, who sent a wrist shot on target for the game-winning goal with just 21 seconds left on the game clock.  Rock's winner was assisted by Hutchins and Pollini.

Neumann finished the day with three power-play goals, while Brockport outshot the visitors 34-23.  Neumann's Mike Cosentino finished the day with 29 saves, while Matt Schneider stopped 19 shots in the win for the Golden Eagles. Schneider now has six wins on the season for Brockport.