SEAN MCGRATH
Assistant Sports Editor
The Blue Devils were back at it this weekend, this time taking on Nazareth College. On Tuesday they dropped a 2-1 decision, then traveled to John Carroll on Saturday, losing to the Blue Streaks, 4-0. This put their record at 3-5 on the season.
Facing Nazareth College, the Blue Devils were determined to make a point that they were there to play.
The Golden Flyers (3-4) struck first, with senior Luke Elston scoring in the 29th minute to open the game. Elston received a cross from teammate Lucas Bennett which he one-timed into the net.
Eight minutes stood between the first Nazareth goal and the next.
Sophomore Remez Al-Hebshi came off the bench and was able to put the ball past Fredonia goalkeeper Mike Schreiner.
After Al-Hebshi’s goal, Fredonia made a change in net, as A.J. Grecco replaced Schreiner for the remainder of the game.
At the half, Nazareth was riding a 2-0 lead, but Fredonia was just getting started. One impressive stat by the Devils was their 7-4 lead in shots.
The Devils, using their mix of youth and team chemistry, applied a full offensive
on the Flyers.
Applying pressure on freshman goalkeeper Nate Ripic, something had to give.
With 20 minutes remaining in the half, the intensity picked up even more, allowing Fredonia to register six of their seven second half shots.
Finally, at the 79th minute, Jay Dry finally put one away, receiving a pass from Jakob Persons to cut the lead by one.
Unfortunately for the Blue Devils, that was the only goal that was scored. Fredonia had one last chance to tie it up, but Nate Ripic came away with the save.
Grecco was not required to make a save in his time in net.
Saturday, the team traveled over to Ohio to take on John Carroll University, dropping the game 4-0. A.J. Grecco made the start in net, finishing with seven saves on seventeen shots.
This was the third time that Fredonia was unable to score this season.
The games this past week were the two final conference games before the Devils open up conference play. The team opens up SUNYAC play on the road in Brockport on Friday and Geneseo on Saturday.