AIDAN POLLARD
Sports Editor
Blue Devil hockey got off to a difficult start to SUNYAC play on Friday with a 6-1 loss to the Geneseo Knights.
“I think the first period we just struggled,” said Head Coach Jeff Meredith. “It was just a mental thing.”
Fredonia suffered four goals in the first period, leaving a gap that improved play in the latter 40 minutes couldn’t fix.
“They’re pretty talented,” said Meredith of Geneseo. “They’re probably the most skilled team in the league.”
Geneseo worked Fredonia to the bone all throughout the first period, playing extremely sloppy but incredibly fast hockey.
“There are things you can do,” said Meredith. “You have to stay inside, you can’t be spread out. You have to chip pucks out of your end and kind of live to play another day. You have to get pucks in deep so they’re 200 feet from your net. You can’t turn them over in the middle of the ice so now they’re a short distance from your net.”
The lone Fredonia goal was scored on a power play by senior Todd Schauss early in the second period.
Combined with the goal, starting goalie Anton Rosen was switched out for senior Eric Bogart who let up two more goals in the second and third periods.
“I just think the whole first period was — we didn’t come out ready to play for some reason,” said Meredith.
The game was the first time Geneseo and Fredonia faced off since the SUNYAC championship game last season that ended with a Geneseo victory.
The Blue Devils went on to face Brockport on Saturday in a game they won in a 3-1 decision.
“[We have to] play our game and be consistent,” said Meredith. “The NCAA is gonna give us 60 minutes to play. We can’t just play 40 and expect a win. We have to play all 60. ”
Bogart started the game and saved 24 shots to hold up the two-goal lead that brought Fredonia to a win.
Fredonia goals were scored by Ryan Dunn, Jimmy Morgan and an insurance goal scored by Ryan Dunner.
Fredonia scored one goal in each period, bringing them to a lead that couldn’t be closed by Brockport’s efforts, including a second period goal.
The two weekend games left Fredonia with a 1-1 SUNYAC record going into the next weeks of play.
The Blue Devils have an overall record of 2-1 with their win against Chatham.
Fredonia’s next game will be on Friday against Bryn Athyn. It will be the stroke awareness game.
Fredonia’s next SUNYAC competition sees the team facing Oswego on Nov. 16.