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.