MATT VOLZ
Assistant Sports Editor
HOCKEY
Fredonia State’s hockey team had a doubleheader weekend, with home games this past Friday and Saturday night.
On Friday, Feb. 3, the Blue Devils fell to the Plattsburgh State Cardinals by a final score of 10-3. The Cardinals led 6-0 at the end of the first period, with two shorthanded goals and two more on the man advantage.
Bryce Witman led the way in scoring for the Blue Devils with one goal and one assist, while Antonio Demacopoulos and Jake Blackwell also found the back of the net.
On Saturday, Feb. 4, the Blue Devils hosted the Bears of SUNY Potsdam on “Pink the Rink” night. Fredonia State rallied from an early 2-0 deficit to defeat the Bears 4-2.
Craig McCabe, Ryan Bailey, Kurri Woodford and Bryce Witman scored for the Blue Devils, with Woodford’s and Witman’s goals coming on the power play. Junior goaltender Logan Dyck made 36 saves in the win.
Following the game, the team presented their pink jerseys to the families and friends of those who they represented on the ice. The win improved Fredonia State to 6-14 on the season, with four regular season games remaining before the SUNYAC playoffs begin.
The next and final home game for the Blue Devils will take place on Saturday, Feb. 11 at 7 p.m. against SUNY Geneseo.
WOMEN’S SWIMMING AND DIVING
On Saturday, Feb. 4, the Blue Devils’ women’s swimming and diving team hosted its final meet of the season as they took on SUNY Cortland. The meet also served as Senior Night, as the Blue Devils honored their two seniors, Rachael Mayou and Libby
Mayou finished first in two events, the 1000 yard freestyle and 200 yard freestyle with times of 11:38.53 and 2:04.30, respectively. She also finished second in the 500 yard freestyle with a time of 5:37.
Junior Kayla Hagen also won two events, finishing first in both the 100 yard backstroke and 100 yard freestyle with times of 1:01.66 and 56.14, respectively. Junior Mindy Doktor also took first in an event, winning the 100 yard butterfly with a time of 1:02.22 and finishing second in the 50 yard freestyle with a time of 26.02, where she was just 0.02 seconds behind the winner.
Two Fredonia State relay teams also claimed first in their events: The 400 yard freestyle relay team of Kaylee Constantino, Doktor, Mayou and Hagen won with a time of 3:50.98, while the 200 yard medley relay team of Hagen, Constantino, Doktor and Megan Orrange won with a time of 1:56.01.
The Blue Devils will compete in the SUNYAC Championships from Wednesday, Feb. 15 to Saturday, Feb. 18 at Erie Community College in Buffalo.
MEN’S SWIMMING AND DIVING
Like the women’s team, Fredonia State’s men’s swimming and diving team hosted SUNY Cortland on Saturday, Feb. 4 in its final meet of the season.
Sophomore Patrick McCrone took home first in three separate events, capping off a regular season in which he claimed first in many events. McCrone won the 100 yard backstroke with a time of 53.63, while also taking first in the 200 yard backstroke and 200 yard IM (individual medley) with times of 1:57.82 and 2:01.43, respectively.
Sophomore Tyler Conti also claimed first in an event, winning the 200 yard butterfly with a final time of 2:03.45. Freshman Aaron Burkett also competed in the 100 yard freestyle event, finishing second with a time of 11:59.49. Fredonia State’s 200 yard medley relay team of McCrone, Noah Wisniewski, Conti and Burkett finished second with a total time of 1:44.52, while Wisniewski took third in the 200 yard breaststroke with a time of 2:29.41.
The Blue Devils will now look ahead to competing at the SUNYAC Championships from Wednesday, Feb. 15 to Saturday, Feb. 18 at Erie Community College in Buffalo.
WOMEN’S BASKETBALL
On Saturday, Feb. 4, the Blue Devils’ women’s basketball team hosted the Buffalo State Bengals and came away with a 55-38 win. The Blue Devils shot a very respectable 37.3% from the field while also not allowing a single point in the entire second quarter en route to the victory.
Freshman Laurell Brown led the way in scoring with 10 points, while sophomore Allie Wandell added nine. Freshman guard Sarah Seaman connected on two three-pointers, while Wandell and sophomore Mary Culeton each hit a shot from behind the arc. Culeton led the way in rebounds with seven, two offensive and five defensive, while also tallying a team high four assists. Wandell, Caitlin Snyder and Alena Wright each blocked a shot for the Blue Devils, as Snyder also came away with two steals and several others came away with a steal as well.
The win snapped a three-game losing streak and brought the team’s overall record to 5-14. While the Blue Devils will be on the road for games against SUNY Plattsburgh and SUNY Potsdam next weekend, their final two regular season games will take place at home, as the team will host SUNY Geneseo at 5:30 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 17 and SUNY Oswego in the regular season finale at 2 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 18.
MEN’S BASKETBALL
On Saturday, Feb. 4, the Blue Devils’ men’s basketball team hosted the Buffalo State Bengals in a continuation of the “Battle by the Lake” series. In a rematch of their first contest on Jan. 20, a game that saw Fredonia State pick up its first win of the season, the Blue Devils completed the sweep of the Bengals with a 93-82 win. The Blue Devils shot a very impressive 55.7% from the field, as well as hitting 11 of 19 from three-point range.
Sophomore guard Aaron Collins led the way in scoring with 21 points, while freshman AJ Knight added 17 of his own. Senior Jacob Hougan led the team with nine rebounds, and sophomore Malik Jemison led the Blue Devils in assists with seven. DeAndre Hayes, My’Kell Kaigler and Elian Dominguez each blocked a shot for Fredonia State, while Jemison came away with two steals and several others recorded one as well.
The win brought the Blue Devils’ season record to 2-19 with four games to play in the regular season. Like the women’s team, the Blue Devils will be on the road against SUNY Plattsburgh and SUNY Potsdam next weekend, but will return home the following weekend for their final two regular season games. Fredonia State will host SUNY Geneseo on Friday, Feb. 17 at 7:30 p.m. and SUNY Oswego in the regular season finale on Saturday, Feb. 18 at 4 p.m.