Tuesday, December 26, 2017

Saturday, December 9, 2017

The first semester by the numbers

As the first semester of play has come to a close, let's look at some key numbers:

RECORD: The Golden Eagles are 6-5-1 overall and 3-3-1 in the SUNYAC. They are fourth in the conference.

SCORING: The team has averaged 3.50 goals per game, the 23rd best output in the country. Aidan Verbeke and Zac Sikich share the team lead with 8 goals each. 7 Golden Eagles have scored 3 or more goals. Verbeke is the 35th-highest scoring player in the country, averaging 1.42 points per game. He is also third in the country in power play goals (3).

DEFENSE: The Golden Eagles have allowed 3.17 goals per game, which has them ranked 49th in the country. Goalie Matt Schneider sports a .905 save percentage and a 2.76 GAA.

SPECIAL TEAMS: It's a reversal of fortunes in special teams this year. The power play is ranked 55th in the country (15.4% success rate) after having consistently ranked in the Top 15 in that category since the 2013-2014 campaign. This year, the penalty kill unit is the best in the country, being successful 95.9% of the time. Last year, they were second-to-last in that category in 77th place. 

Brockport falls to Geneseo

The College at Brockport drops a State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) contest against SUNY Geneseo Friday evening losing by a score of 6-2. The Golden Eagles fall to 6-5-1 (3-3-1 SUNYAC) on the season, where the Knights move to 8-3-1 (6-2-1 SUNYAC).

Both teams came out battling midway through the opening period, before Brockport suffered a penalty which lead to a Geneseo power play. The Green and Gold proved why they are ranked number one in the country for the penalty kill as they halted the Knights man-up advantage to keep the game scoreless in the first. The Golden Eagles fell behind in the 15th minute after Geneseo tallied the first goal of the match to lead 1-0 heading into the second period.

Brockport fell further behind as the Knights doubled their lead seven minutes into the second period. Moments later, Doc Gentzler for the Golden Eagles notched their first goal of the game to cut their deficit to 2-1. Gentzler collected a miss pass by Geneseo behind the opposing net, in which he wrapped the puck around to the front and sent his shot between the goalie's legs. The lead was extended for the Knights as they added two more goals throughout the second to take a 4-1 advantage. Brockport fought back in the last minutes of the period, as Ryan Romeo picked up a loose puck near the blue-line and took a one-time slap shot into the back of the net to bring the score to 4-2 as they headed into the final period.

The Green and Gold opened up the period on the power play but were unsuccessful on the man-advantage to still trail the Knights by two goals. Brockport slipped as Geneseo netted two back-to-back goals to take a 6-2 advantage. The Golden Eagles attempted to get back into the game but were unable to find the back of the cage for the remainder of the contest, as they lose by the eventual final score.

Gentzler and Romeo finished the night with one goal apiece, where goalie Matt Schneider ended with 27 saves between the pipes.

Thursday, December 7, 2017

Brockport hosts Geneseo Friday

The first semester closes out this Friday when Brockport hosts our biggest rival -- Geneseo -- for a 7:00 match-up that is certain to be hard fought.

Geneseo is 7-3-1 while being 5-2-1 in conference. They are ranked #8 in the latest USCHO poll. They have allowed the 18th fewest goals-per-game in the country (only 2.09) while scoring at a clip of 4.00 goals-per-game (11th in the country).

Junior goalie Devin McDonald is showing the form of his freshman year, when he helped take the team to the Frozen Four. He has a .922 save percentage and a 1.99 goals against average.

In front of him are forwards and playmaking blueliners who spread the wealth -- 7 players have at least 3 goals, led by sophomores Conlan Keenan (9 goals) and Tyson Empey (8 goals). Two other sophomores already have double-digit assists -- forward Andrew Romano and defenseman Duggie Lagrone.

They are the team to beat in the SUNYAC and will be for at least a few seasons -- those are some talented second year players.

This will be an exciting game because of that -- and because of the bad blood this rivalry holds.



Hockey alumnus now Brockport's police chief

Mark Cuzzupoli -- who played hockey for the Golden Eagles -- has been named the next Chief of Police for the village of Brockport.

Here is the D&C's report:

http://www.democratandchronicle.com/story/news/2017/12/06/brockport-names-new-police-chief/929365001/

Wednesday, December 6, 2017

Jeff Meredith picks up 400th win

Fredonia coach Jeff Meredith is a Brockport graduate and an all-around nice guy. Last week, he secured his 400th win. The Observer offers this report and interview about Meredith's hockey career:

http://www.observertoday.com/sports/local-sports/2017/12/400-wins-countless-friendships/

Sunday, December 3, 2017

Oswego beats Brockport

The College at Brockport drops a tough State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) matchup against No. 5 /7 ranked Oswego Sate Saturday evening by a final score of 3-0. The Golden Eagles fall to 6-4-1 (3-2-1) on the season, where the Lakers jump to 6-1-1 (4-0-1).

Brockport found some trouble early in the first period on an Oswego power play within the first few minutes of play. The Golden Eagles penalty kill has had much success this season only allowing two goals all season, and continued their defensive statement by shutting out the Lakers on their first opportunity. The Green and Gold found their first scoring opportunity with a power play 12 minutes into the period. Tim Kielich and Zac Sikich ripped two shots a piece throughout the man-advantage but were unable to convert to keep the game scoreless in the first.

Brockport trailed early as the Lakers took a one goal advantage five minutes into the second period. The Golden Eagles found themselves on the power play in the 11th minute, but the Oswego penalty kill locked down and only allowed one shot. Moments later, Doc Gentzler carried the puck down the ride side of the boards into the offensive third and put a shot on net, to have Ethan Solat there to smack the puck out the air wide of the net. Both teams battled it out for the remainder of the second but the score remained in favor the Lakers, 1-0, heading into the final period.

The Green and Gold opened the third period earning a power play opportunity, but could not convert the three shots they took. The deficit grew for Brockport as Oswego tallied another goal shortly after the power play end. After two costly penalties for the Golden Eagles they were forced to play the last seven of the nine minutes remaining a man down. Once again, the Brockport penalty kill unit was successful and deterred any offensive threats by Oswego. The best scoring chance in the third was on a breakout pass to Shane Visnick after serving his penalty. He stepped onto the ice and received an across ice pass to have a one-on-one with the goalie, in which he could not convert. The game ended with Oswego tallying an empty net goal with time expiring to beat Brockport by a final score of 3-0.
 
Goaltender Matt Schneider finished the game with 23 saves in between the pipes.

Saturday, December 2, 2017

Brockport beats Cortland

The College at Brockport ice hockey team defeated conference foe SUNY Cortland Friday evening by a final score of 3-1. The Golden Eagles move to 6-3-1 on the year, where the Red Dragons fall to 3-7.

Both teams went toe-to-toe in the first period but it was David Horan for the Green and Gold to get the scoring started in the 11th minute to take a 1-0 lead. Ryan Romeo hit Dylan Shapiro with a pass and crossed the blue line into the offense third, where he found a trailing Horan who ripped the shot passed the goalie. Brockport doubled their lead moments later when Shapiro collected a loose puck in front of the net, which he buried into the back of the goal. The Golden Eagles were tested late in the period on a Cortland power play, but goaltender Matt Schneider saved all shots on frame to keep the score 2-0 heading into the first break.

Brockport's lead was cut in the 10th minute of the second period when Cortland tallied their first goal of the game to bring the score to 2-1. The Green and Gold's offense picked up the pace and dominated the next seven minutes of play, which resulted in another Shapiro goal to extend the lead to 3-1. Aidan Verbeke carried the puck across the ice and took a shot on frame to have the rebound go right to Shapiro on the far side to then score on the open net.  Brockport had another scoring opportunity late in the second on the power play, but could not convert as the score stayed the same heading into the final period.

The Golden Eagles found some trouble early in the third period when Cortland was award a penalty shot opportunity. The Red Dragon player tried to deke Schneider to the right but was unsuccessful as the puck was poked away. Brockport played lock-down defense for the remainder of the period fending off two Cortland power plays to win the contest by the eventual score.

Shapiro led the offense for the Golden Eagles as he accounted for two goals and one assist, where Horan finished with one goal and Romeo dished out one assist. Schneider finished the contest with 26 saves in between the pipes.