The No.10-ranked Geneseo Ice Knights started the second half of SUNYAC play last weekend, dropping their season record to 12-5-2 and splitting road contests with a loss to SUNY Plattsburgh and victory over SUNY Potsdam.
Geneseo suffered a 4-2 loss Friday night at Plattsburgh. After a scoreless first period in which Geneseo held a 7-4 shot advantage, the Cardinals came out and dominated the second period. Plattsburgh scored three goals in the period. For the second goal, the Plattsburgh forward found himself wide open in front of the net and had an easy goal.
"I didn't see exactly what happened on the play," head coach Chris Schultz said. "I think our defense was looking to clear."
Geneseo was able to take away Plattsburgh's momentum in the third, thanks in part to a fire alarm going off in the building that delayed the start of the period by about 30 minutes. Geneseo resisted two Plattsburgh power plays early in the period, and junior David Arduin netted a shorthanded goal to pull the Ice Knights within two.
Sophomore Colin de Jersey scored an unassisted goal to get within one with six minutes left in play. Geneseo was unable to capitalize the rest of the game, and Plattsburgh tallied an empty net goal to get the 4-2 win. Junior Cory Gershon made 24 saves in the loss.
"We need to play a full 60 minutes," Schultz said, adding that he would be mixing up the lineup for the Potsdam game.
Geneseo got off to a fast start Saturday at Potsdam, with junior Stefan Decosse tallying his third goal of the year less than a minute into the game. Shortly afterward, sophomore Brandon Angotti scored his first career goal to give the Ice Knights a lead of two just four minutes into the game.
The two teams exchanged power play goals later in the first, with sophomore Ryan Bulach scoring on assists from juniors Jake Yard and Jimmy Powers.
The game had to be suspended after a pipe burst under one of the nets, forcing the game to be completed Sunday at nearby Clarkson University.
When the game resumed, Geneseo opened up the lead to three on a power play as de Jersey skated the length of the ice, completing a centering pass to junior Jonathan Redlick who poked home his fifth goal of the year.
Potsdam put on the pressure with two goals in the third, but the Ice Knights' defense held on, clearing out a number of rebounds in front of the net. Sophomore Adrian Rubeniuk made 21 saves to improve to 7-1-1 on the season.
"We wanted to try out some different combinations" and mix up the lines, assistant coach Kris Heeres said.
Geneseo now stands second place in the SUNYAC with a 6-3-1 conference record, one point ahead of Plattsburgh and two points ahead of Buffalo State and Morrisville State. The Ice Knights continue SUNYAC play Saturday when they host Morrisville at 4 p.m.