Senior forwards Andrew Romano and Conlan Keenan look for the puck in last season’s SUNYAC semi-final game against Fredonia on Feb. 23, 2019. The Knights surprised many this season by defeating Oswego 9-1 (Courtesy of Josie Kwan).
A game featuring two teams ranked in the top five nationwide for Division III always has the potential to be high scoring. The game between the second-ranked Geneseo Ice Knights and third ranked SUNY Oswego was certainly high scoring, with ten total goals scored.
High scoring games are nothing new for these two high-powered rivals. In the last regular season matchup between Geneseo and Oswego, the teams combined for eight goals resulting in a 4-4 draw in Oswego on Feb. 2.
The biggest difference between that February matchup and the game on Saturday Nov. 16 was how those goals were shared. Geneseo dominated and shocked the nation as they decisively won 9-1.
A 9-1 game in hockey is quite unique, especially considering these two teams’ history. Heading into the game on Saturday, the two teams shared a 3-3-4 record against each other in the last 10 games. The total score of those last ten matchups was dead even at 30 goals apiece.
As unpredictable as a 9-1 victory was, Geneseo’s odds were stacked against them considering they had just played in Cortland the night before and had to mentally prepare to play an intense conference game just six games into the young season.
Junior goaltender Aaron MacKay revealed the Knights were prepared regardless of the circumstances, “Traveling on a Friday [from Cortland] does make the turnaround feel faster, but in the SUNYAC we are fortunate enough to have short bus trips that get us home at a reasonable time,” MacKay said. “As for preparation, nothing changes. We know our habits throughout the week prepare us for two hard games every weekend.”
Regarding the pivotal matchup so early in the season, MacKay referenced the team’s long-term goals to shrug off the rivalry. He said, “with our goal of winning a national championship, we know that every game is important for us to be where we want to be at the end of March. Playing a rival is a game we all look forward to, but like any other game we just play our game and focus on the process.”
Apparently, part of the process includes stoic special teams play. The biggest difference in the game was Geneseo’s powerplay and penalty kill. The Knights were 7-12 (58.3 percent) on the power play and successfully killed eight of their nine (88.8 percent) shorthanded sequences.
Leading the way not only on the powerplay but offensively overall was senior forward Tyson Empey who had a hat trick on merely five shots just 43 minutes into the game. It was Empey’s fifth hat trick of his career.
Defensively, the Knights bravely blocked 21 shots in an effort to give their goalie an easy night. MacKay made 24 saves on 25 shots in route to his third victory on the season. MacKay was minutes away from a shutout, but he allowed one goal to squeak in with 1:19 left to play in the game while the Knights were on a 5-3 penalty kill.
Speaking of defense, sophomore defender Chris Perna contributed on both sides of the ice as he created four assists from the blue line.
The Knights look to stay undefeated when they travel to Buffalo State on Friday Nov. 22. They will be back home to the Ira S. Wilson Arena the next day, Saturday Nov. 23, to take on SUNY Fredonia.