MICHELLE HALE
Staff Writer
The Blue Devils ice hockey team fought two hard battles in SUNYAC play this weekend, but fell short with points both times in a 4-4 tie in overtime to the Potsdam Bears and a 4-1 loss to the Plattsburgh Cardinals. Fredonia traveled up north for the second weekend in a row to face some tough competition.
On Friday, the Blue Devils faced the Potsdam Bears which resulted in an overtime tie 4-4. The Blue Devils put two goals in the back of the net during the first period. They went into the first period intermission with a 2-1 lead of the Bears.
Fredonia goals were scored by sophomore Hunter Long and junior Taylor Bourne, assisted by junior Ryan Wilkinson and senior Stephen Castriota. This was Long’s second goal of the season, and Bourne’s fourth, leading the Blue Devils in goals for the 2014-15 season.
Four minutes into the second period sophomore Marcus Andersson added another goal to make it a 3-1 lead with assists by junior John DeFeo and sophomore Frankie Hart — his first collegiate goal. Within seconds after the faceoff, the Bears rallied back to get a quick goal. The Bears scored two more goals in the second period, making it a 4-3 lead for Potsdam.
Sophomore Garrett Moore had his first goal of the season in the third that tied the game up for the Blue Devils. Fredonia’s sophomore goaltender Chris Eisermann made 41 saves in net. The Blue Devils outshot the Bears 48-45.
The overtime period ended with a result of a 4-4 tie. The tie brought Fredonia’s record to 1-1-3 overall, and 0-1-2 in the SUNYAC Conference.
Fredonia then fell short to the Plattsburgh Cardinals on Saturday with a 4-1 loss. The Cardinals are No.5 in the nation. The win improved Plattsburgh’s undefeated record to 5-0.
The Blue Devils lone goal was scored by Castriota on a shorthanded goal late in the third period, assisted by senior Jared Wynia and freshman Oskar Gerhardson.
Plattsburgh had two goals in the first period, and one each in the second and third. They also outshot the Blue Devils 40-31. Eisermann had 36 saves for the Blue Devils in net.
The Blue Devils are now 1-2-3 overall and 0-2-2 in the SUNYAC conference.
Fredonia will continue SUNYAC play this weekend with a home game against Buffalo State on Friday at 7 p.m.