Ice Knights drop two in North Country

The injury plagued Geneseo Ice Knights lost two games on their trip to the North Country, falling to Potsdam, 3-7, and being shutout by Plattsburgh, 0-2, last weekend.

“We’re decimated with injury, it’s to the point where we had two defensemen playing forward,” head coach Chris Schultz said. “After a while it starts to really wear on players. They know we’re not playing with a strong lineup.”

Potsdam took an early 2-0 lead against Geneseo less than four minutes into the first period. The Ice Knights then committed four penalties later in the first, but were able to kill each of them off.

Juniors Brandon Angotti and Blake O’Connor each scored their first goal of the season in the second period to tie the game at two. Just 16 seconds after Geneseo tied the game, Potsdam scored to take a 3-2 lead.

Less than two minutes after that, sophomore Rich Manley received a five-minute hitting from behind game misconduct penalty. On the ensuing five minute power play, the Bears scored three times to put the game away.

Senior Cory Gershon was then pulled from goal after allowing six goals and making 19 saves. Junior Adrian Rubeniuk came in and allowed a goal on the only shot he faced before being pulled for first year Bryan Haude. Haude finished the game and made five saves without allowing a goal.

“We’ve never really had a goalie issue before,” Schultz said. “I’m glad it’s happening now and not later.”

Junior Kaz Iwamoto scored later in the second period to make the score 7-3.

The next night in Plattsburgh the Ice Knights were shutout by the Cardinals. Plattsburgh scored two quick goals in the second period for the only goals of the game. Senior Stefan Decosse was scratched a half hour before the start of the game, requiring the Ice Knights to start first year defensemen Jesper Fahlen and Jack Caradonna at forward, who created several goal scoring chances.

“They’re great skaters,” Schultz added. “One of the things that defensemen that are good skaters want to do is move the puck up ice and skate the puck and you saw both Jesper and Jack do that. They did a good job filling in for some injured guys.”

Rubeniuk made 34 saves in net, taking the loss.

“I thought he (Rubeniuk) was outstanding tonight,” Schultz said. “He stood up to the test. He knew there was a lot riding on his performance.”

Geneseo’s next game is December 2 at home against Morrisville before they head on the road to Hobart on December 3 for a non-conference matchup. The extra week off should help the team get healthy.

“We’re going to get a bunch of guys back and I’m really excited for it,” Schultz added. “We’re just really looking forward to getting our best lineup out on the ice.”

Ice Knights suffer bad loss at home to Brockport

The Ice Knights split two home games last weekend, suffering a bad loss to SUNYAC rival Brockport on November 11, 6-1, and then making some personnel changes to defeat Framingham State the next day, also by a score of 6-1.

“Our guys played soft, they played undisciplined. Completely opposite of the team we expect to see,” head coach Chris Schultz said after the loss to Brockport. “There were a lot of errors and there was a lot of contentment.”

Junior Colin de Jersey gave Geneseo the early lead on the power play in the first period but Geneseo was unable to score again. Brockport tied the game going into the first intermission before breaking the game open with three goals in the second period and two goals in the third.

Geneseo put 28 shots on goal but did not create a lot of good scoring chances. “If you’re not willing to go into the scoring area to try to win a battle, you’re not going to win the game.” Schultz added.

Junior Adrian Rubeniuk took the loss in net, making 25 saves and allowing six goals.

Schultz decided to make changes in the lineup prior to the non-conference game against Framingham State, in an attempt to send a message to the team. Schultz only dressed 20 players instead of the usual 21. This included only playing nine forwards instead of the usual 12.

“We can’t accept guys who are going to be content with their role,” Schultz said. “We can’t accept anything less than the best and we basically had to shorten the bench and send a message.”

Sophomore Zachary Vit scored two goals and added two assists against Framingham and leads the team with six goals, six assists, and 12 points this season. Senior David Arduin and junior Corbin Rosmarin also scored and they are each tied for second on the team with six points and four goals each.

“Corbin did a great job of getting his nose dirty and trying to score the ugly goal,” Schultz added. “Corbin’s a guy that really stepped into a great role for us.”

Sophomore Carson Schell scored his third goal of the year and de Jersey found the back of the net for the second straight night. First year Bryan Haude got the start in goal and made 15 saves, picking up the win.

The Ice Knights fall to 3-2-0 in SUNYAC play and 4-3-0 overall this year. They next play on the road at Potsdam on November 18 and at Plattsburgh on November 19.

Ice Knights split weekend in SUNYAC play

The 12th-ranked Geneseo Ice Knights split two SUNYAC road games last weekend, losing to Oswego and defeating Cortland, each by a score of 4-2.

On Friday, November 4, Geneseo fell to #1 ranked Oswego, 4-2. Oswego scored first halfway through the first period off a Geneseo defensive zone turnover.

“We have to make sure our defensemen make better decisions that’s the bottom line,” head coach Chris Schultz said. “Their confidence is down right now, they’re not making good decisions at all.”

Geneseo tied the game at one a minute later when sophomore Zachary Vit put a shot past the Oswego goalie. Oswego then scored late in the first to take a 2-1 lead into the intermission.

The Lakers extended their lead to two early in the second period. Vit then made the score 3-2 after an Oswego turnover on a remarkable shot over the Oswego goalie’s shoulder into the corner of the net. Vit leads the team with four goals and seven points on the year. Junior Corbin Rosmarin assisted on both of Vit’s goals.

The Ice Knights were able to put pressure on Oswego for most of the second and early in the third period, until sophomore Carson Schell took a penalty midway through the third.

“We had things going pretty well in the third period when it was 3-2,” Schultz added. “The bottom line is Carson’s penalty kind of set us back, put us on our heels and we never recovered. You need to play perfectly in Oswego to win and we didn't do that.”

Oswego scored three minutes after the penalty to end the game 4-2. Junior Adrian Rubeniuk made 46 saves in goal.

Geneseo then won at Cortland, 4-2, on November 5. Geneseo took a 3-0 lead in the second period after goals from Rosmarin, first year Peter Mott, and Schell. Geneseo also had three goals disallowed due to the net being moved off by the Cortland goalie.

“Three times in a row it’s obvious the goaltender is moving the net off himself,” Schultz said.

Cortland was able to make the score 3-2 and held a power play late in the third. Junior Ryan Bulach blocked a shot from the point and senior Clint Olson chased it down and scored a short-handed goal on a wrap-around to make the score 4-2. The penalty kill didn’t allow a goal on five Cortland chances.

“If it wasn’t for them tonight I’m not sure what would have happened with the game,” Schultz added. “You see a guy like Schell put his face in front of the puck down here. You need players like that to win championships. It was a gutsy effort for sure.”

Senior Cory Gershon made 22 saves in goal. “We don’t question our goaltending ever,” Schultz said. “We’re just in a good position with goaltending whether its (Gershon) or (Rubeniuk).”

Geneseo is now 3-2 on the season and is home against Brockport and Framingham State on November 11 and 12.