Couresy of Fredoniabluedevils.com
MICHELLE HALE
Staff Writer
The men’s ice hockey team traveled north to gain points in two non-conference games against SUNY Canton this weekend.
On Friday, the men were able to play a quick game of catch-up to tie the SUNY Canton Kangaroos 4-4. The Kangaroos had a 4-0 lead against the Blue Devils just five minutes into the second period. Two of these goals were scored in the first period.
Sophomore Frankie Hart ended the scoring drought for the Blue Devils at the 18:25 mark in the second period with assists from freshman Matt Cessna and sophomore Hunter Long. This was Hart’s first goal of the season. The score at the end of the second period was 4-1.
Two quick goals in the third period brought the Kangaroo’s lead to only one goal. Fredonia’s senior forward Stephen Castriota scored on a power play 2:51 into the third period — his second goal of the season. With the score 4-2, sophomore Hunter Long added another goal for the Blue Devils 38 seconds later. This was his first goal of the season.
The final Blue Devil goal was scored with 53 seconds left in regulation time off of a power play in the Blue Devil’s favor.
Junior Taylor Bourne tied the game and sent the Blue Devils and Kangaroos into an overtime battle. The score remained 4-4 after overtime, and improved the Blue Devil’s record to 0-1-2.
Blue Devil sophomore Jeff Flagler played the first 25 minutes of regulation in goal, where he allowed four goals into Fredonia’s net and had 10 saves. Sophomore Chris Eiserman was put into net and made 17 saves. He played the remainder of the game.
Saturday marked the first win of the Blue Devil’s 2014-15 season.
All Blue Devil goals were scored in the second period. Fredonia was able to hang onto the lead through the third period to gain their victory over the Kangaroos.
The Kangaroos scored with 1:22 into the second period right before Fredonia tallied up their three goals.
Sophomore Frankie Hart added his second goal of the season to make the score 1-1 with assists from freshman Marcus Andersson and Matt Cessna.
Junior John DeFeo cracked another goal in the Kangaroos’ net four minutes later with assists from Andersson and senior Cory Melkert to make the lead 2-1.
Senior Taylor Bourne scored once again on a power-play to clinch the win for the Blue Devils. Bourne’s goal was assisted by junior Ryan Wilkinson and Castriota.
The Kangaroos failed to meet the goal deficit, even with their second goal in the first minute of the third period.
Fredonia’s Chris Eiserman had 29 saves to keep the Blue Devils on top. The win was the first of the season.
The Blue Devils head back up north this weekend for SUNYAC conference games against the Potsdam Bears on Friday and the Plattsburgh Cardinals on Saturday.