The Ice Knights opened a six-game home stand with an overtime win against SUNY Cortland on Nov. 2, but have struggled to win a game since.
Geneseo has lost three in a row, falling to Elmira College 4-3 on Nov. 9, Hobart College 5-1 on Nov. 10 and SUNY Oswego 10-1 on Nov. 3.
Geneseo’s ineffectiveness in first periods remained a glaring problem throughout the three-game slide. In the game against Elmira, Geneseo trailed 3-1 after 20 minutes of play.
In the first period sophomore Josh Burnell’s power-play goal gave Elmira the first lead of the game.
Elmira held a modest advantage in shots after the first period with 11 to Geneseo’s nine, but used its special teams and a lucky puck bounce to jump ahead.
The Knights added their first goal to the scoreboard with senior Colin de Jersey’s third of the season. Shortly after, Elmira’s Eric David received a five minute-major penalty for his hit to first-year Tyler Brickler’s head, who left the game and did not play in the next.
With 39 seconds left in the period, Elmira first-year Michael Collins’ half-ice wrist shot took an odd bounce and skipped past senior goalie Adrian Rubeniuk for Elmira’s second shorthanded goal of the period.
“That was one of the worst bounces I’ve seen in my life,” assistant coach Kris Heeres said.
With additional goals in the second period by Geneseo junior Zack Vit, senior Ryan Bulach and Elmira junior Jesper Strale, Geneseo pulled within a goal of Elmira at 13:23 in the third period.
Two Elmira penalties within 42 seconds gave Geneseo a two-man advantage with 2:43 left in the game. Geneseo sent a barrage of shots at Elmira, but senior goalie Darren MacDonald stood tall with 27 saves.
The first period was similar in the game against Hobart, as the Statesmen were three of three on power plays in the first with goals from a trio of seniors.
Sophomore Brad McBride gave Hobart a 4-0 lead at 3:41 in the second, chasing Geneseo goalie sophomore Bryan Haude from the game. Rubeniuk replaced Haude, stopping eight shots. First-year Nate Brown scored Geneseo’s only goal.
Geneseo hosts SUNY Plattsburgh Nov. 16 and SUNY Potsdam Nov. 17.