Senior forward Arthur Gordon nets a goal against SUNY Cortland on Friday Feb. 8. The Knights defeated the Red Dragons at home by a score of 3-0 (Keith Walters/director of multimedia).
The Geneseo Ice Knights hit the ice at the Ira S. Wilson Arena for the final time in the regular season on Friday Feb. 8 against SUNY Cortland. To add to the emotion of their final home game, Geneseo celebrated the careers of their ten graduating seniors.
The class of 2019 is the winningest squad in team history, currently with a 76-19-14 record over their four seasons and the only class to ever record three 20-win seasons.
On senior night, the first period remained scoreless for fifteen minutes until senior forward Arthur Gordon celebrated the best way he knew how, by scoring a goal to give the Knights a 1-0 lead. That lead would hold true until the Knights reignited their scoring abilities late in the third period when junior forward Conlan Keenan scored his 19th goal of the year.
In an attempt to crawl back into the game, Cortland pulled their goalie, but Geneseo took advantage of the empty net with a late goal by junior forward Tyson Empey. That goal secured Geneseo’s 17th straight victory.
Senior goaltender Devin McDonald made 16 saves to lock down his 12th shutout of the year. The shutout broke the record for most shutouts in a season in Division III hockey dating back to 2001.
The Knights did not have long to relish in their senior night victory. They traveled into unfriendly territory to take on their rival, SUNY Oswego. The matchup on Saturday Feb. 9 pitted the two top teams in the SUNYAC against each other.
Geneseo had already defeated the Lakers once this season, but to get a second, vital win against them, they would have to play in front of the Oswego home crowd.
The premier SUNYAC matchup immediately lived up to the hype as five goals were scored in the first period. Goals from junior forward Andrew Romano, Keenan and senior forward David Szmyd had Geneseo leading 3-2 after 20 minutes of play.
The Lakers surpassed the Knights in the second period with two goals, one of which came while Geneseo was on the powerplay.
Despite being behind in the third period, the Knights were not leaving quietly.
“We had a few lumps in the second period, and they capitalized on those chances, but hey, that’s hockey, we will get scored on, it’s how we respond when that happens,” Keenan said.
Geneseo responded by scoring a powerplay goal in the third period to tie the game, 4-4.
“We, as a team, never gave up.” Keenan said. “We never doubted that once we were down one goal, that we were not going to come back. Everyone in the locker room was positive and picking each other up.”
Empey scored the game-tying goal for the Knights. His goal was Geneseo’s second powerplay goal of the game.
Although Empey admits the Geneseo powerplay unit did not play up to their standards, their powerplay success is what kept the Knights in the game.
“We did a pretty good job spreading out the defenders. Romano is one of the best playmakers in Division III and all it took was Oswego leaving a passing lane open for a split second so he could find Keenan and myself for quick goals [on the powerplay].” Empey said.
The game would head to overtime, but neither team could get a leg over the other, and the game ended in a 4-4 draw.
After the game against Oswego, Geneseo remained in first place in the SUNYAC and with a 6-2 win over Buffalo State on Wednesday Feb. 13, the team has a record of 21-1-2. The Knights have guaranteed home ice advantage for their first playoff game.
Empey is excited for a home playoff game.
“Being able to play in your home rink and in front of your home crowd is a big advantage. Especially when you have the passionate fans we do, with the Blue Crew and pep band.”
Before Geneseo’s home playoff game on Saturday Feb. 23, however, the Knights will play three away games to finish out the regular season.