The Geneseo Ice Knights finished a season that began with high hopes on February 22, losing to Fredonia, 4-1, in the first round of the SUNYAC playoffs.

Geneseo defeated Morrisville on February 17, 3-2, in their season finale in order to host a playoff game. First year Justin Scharfe, sophomore Carson Schell, and junior Kaz Iwamoto each scored for the Ice Knights. Senior Cory Gershon made 24 saves in goal for the win.

“We knew it was going to be a tough game. Our guys gutted out a nice win,” head coach Chris Schultz said. Schultz added after the game that the team was really looking forward to hosting a SUNYAC playoff game.

Geneseo got off to a slow start in the playoff game against Fredonia, as the Blue Devils outshot Geneseo 12-6 in the period and controlled possession time.

“They came out in the first period not to lose,” Schultz said. “We didn’t even show up in our own rink after getting a break with home ice.”

Fredonia scored on the power play late in the first period to take a 1-0 lead into the first intermission. Gershon made several big saves in the first, which helped keep Geneseo close early on. Gershon finished the game with 26 saves.

“He made some big saves that they could of opened up a big lead on us early on,” Schultz said of Gershon.

Geneseo tied the game in the second period, as senior David Arduin scored on a rebound. Juniors Ryan Bulach and Colin de Jersey assisted on the play. Geneseo was able to create some pressure later in the second, but were unable to take the lead.

Geneseo went on a five minute power play in the closing seconds of the second, but were unable to convert in the third and lost momentum for the remainder of the game.

“All the momentum changed after that five minute period,” Schultz added.

Fredonia blocked countless Geneseo shots, especially on the power play, causing Geneseo to finish 0-4 with a man advantage during the game.

“They did a really good job of staying in the lane and not letting that lane open up,” Schultz said. “We knew coming in to it, especially their penalty kill was going to pack it in and block those shots. I guess we didn’t realize how good they were at doing it.”

Fredonia took the lead with two goals just 20 seconds apart from each other during the middle of the third. Geneseo put on the pressure the rest of the game but were unable to find the back of the net.

Fredonia added an empty net goal in the last minute of the game to seal their victory. They outshot Geneseo 30-21 for the game, and limited Geneseo’s offensive chances throughout the game.

Geneseo ends an injury filled season with a record of 13-12-1.

“It was a tough season for everybody. We were never able to get a flow with a consistent lineup,” Schultz said. “I really feel awful for our seniors because I really thought that by the time they leave we'd have a championship. It’s very disappointing that whether it’s catching the breaks or making the breaks, we didn’t put them in a position to win a championship.”

Ice Knights clinch home playoff game

The Geneseo Ice Knights won their regular season finale over Morrisville, 3-2, on February 17, clinching a home playoff game.

“We knew it was going to be a tough game,” head coach Chris Schultz said. “Our guys gutted out a nice win, and we’re really looking forward to an opportunity to play at home.”

First year Justin Scharfe opened the scoring less than two minutes into the game, after sophomore Ryan Goldberg found him all alone in front of the net. Scharfe deked out the Morrisville goalie and found the back of the net for his fourth goal on the season.

Morrisville tied the game later in the first, but Geneseo came out strong in the second period. Sophomore Carson Schell tipped in a shot from the point from classmate Zachary Vit on the power play early in the period. Senior Clint Olson assisted on each of Geneseo’s first two goals, and finished second on the team behind Vit with 13 on the season. Vit led the team with 12 goals, 19 assists, and 31 points in 2011-2012.

Junior Kaz Iwamoto gave the Ice Knights a two-goal lead later in the second after he made a great move to get the Morrisville defenseman and goalie out of position for a wide open net. Morrisville pulled back within one halfway through the third, but Geneseo’s defense held strong the rest of the game.

In the last minute with Morrisville’s goalie pulled, the Ice Knights were able to tie the puck up behind the net for most of the last 25 seconds of the game.

“Our guys did a great job freezing the puck behind the goal line,” Schultz added. “We killed about 20 seconds just by falling on the puck and not letting the puck re-enter the scoring area.”

Senior Cory Gershon earned the win in goal, making 24 saves and allowing two goals.

“I was happy with Gershon’s play, but I think there were some things I wasn’t happy with in terms of rebound control,” Schultz said. “But he won the game and that’s important for goaltenders.”

Geneseo was able to finish the regular season 13-11-1 and 7-8-1 in SUNYAC play, despite countless injuries throughout the lineup. Only three players, Vit, Olson, and junior Corbin Rosmarin, played all 25 games for the Ice Knights.

“If anybody gets hurt we don’t have an extra player right now. For 25 games now, we haven’t had our best lineup,” Schultz said. “That says a lot about who we are as a team and the character and the ability of the players on our team… Our team knows what we’ve dealt with and I’m really proud of them right now.”

Geneseo and Fredonia each finished tied for fourth in the SUNYAC with 15 points, but Geneseo holds the tiebreaker due to having more conference wins. The Ice Knights will host Fredonia in the first round of the playoffs on Wednesday, February 22.

Ice Knights defeat Potsdam, fall to Plattsburgh

The Geneseo Ice Knights continued their push towards the SUNYAC playoffs, defeating Potsdam, 4-3, on February 10, and losing to Plattsburgh, 2-1, on February 11.

Geneseo opened the weekend with a 4-3 win over Potsdam, in a game with huge playoff implications.

“We needed this game in a big way,” head coach Chris Schultz said. “The league’s tight right now. You know it’s going to come right down to the end.”

Geneseo started the game off strong, scoring four goals in the first period, including two on the power play.

“We did work hard enough, we did create chances,” Schultz added. “Enough to make them take penalties and we were able to capitalize on those penalties in the first period.”

Senior Danny Scagnelli opened the scoring with a power play goal five minutes into the first period. After Potsdam tied the game at one, junior Ryan Bulach added a five-on-three power play goal to give the Ice Knights the lead for good. Geneseo kept the pressure on for the entire period as junior Corbin Rosmarin and first year Justin Scharfe added goals later in the period.

Geneseo lost some of their momentum in the second and third periods after taking penalties. Potsdam was only able to score one power play goal, but being short-handed took away offensive zone possession time from the Ice Knights, who dominated this category when the game was even-strength.

“Discipline is something we’ve struggled a little big with,” Schultz said. “When you work hard and you play physical, you’re going to take penalties sometimes.”

Geneseo was able to hold on for the 4-3, despite several good chances from Potsdam in the third period. Senior Cory Gershon held strong, making 28 saves for the win.

Geneseo lost to Plattsburgh, 2-1, the next night. Plattsburgh came out strong, scoring twice in the first five minutes of the game.

“We came out that first five minutes and we were unfortunately a little bit flat,” assistant coach Kris Heeres said. “They’re a good hockey team. They’re going to make you pay. They did that and after the first five minutes I thought we really picked up, we were right with them the entire game.”

Geneseo has chances throughout the third period, as Plattsburgh took three penalties right after the second intermission and two more penalties in the last three minutes. Geneseo was unable to convert and finished 0-7 on the power play for the game.

Geneseo created numerous opportunities in the last part of the game, starting with senior Jonathan Redlick’s goal with 12 minutes left. However, Plattsburgh’s goalie did not allow Geneseo to tie the game.

“He’s making the big saves, and ultimately he’s giving that team a lot of confidence,” Heeres added. “They play very disciplined back there and it was hard to generate opportunities. In the last 12 minutes, I think we got a couple breaks and guys really put their pedal down and tried to scratch back the best we could.”

Senior Cory Gershon made 21 saves in the loss for the Ice Knights.

February 11 was also senior night, and the team honored their eight seniors. Defenseman Scagnelli, Jake Yard and captain Jimmy Powers, forwards Redlick, Stefan Decosse, Clint Olson, and David Arduin, and Gershon in goal.

Heeres believes that it was this class that helped the program recover so well from their financial aid violations in 2009.

“They’ve meant the world to this program,” he said. “When we went through the violation there it was this group of guys that decided to come together and make it work. Unfortunately, a lot of them are paying a lot of money in comparison to man, many, many other institutions at the Division III level and they chose to be here. I think it’s a testament to our institution, to our program, and to these guys, and ultimately their families.”

Geneseo is now 12-11-1 on the season and 6-8-1 in SUNYAC play. They finish the regular season on February 17 at Morrisville.

Ice Knights tie Brockport after committing nine Penalties

The Geneseo Ice Knights tied Brockport, 2-2, in their only game last weekend on February 3.

Geneseo took nine penalties during the course of the game, including giving Brockport almost four minutes in the third period with a two-man advantage.

“It cost us a point for sure. The discipline piece wasn’t there,” head coach Chris Schultz said. “It’s not understanding how important these points are and how important it is to stay out of the penalty box against a team that’s hungry and desperate.”

Brockport scored the only goal in the first after creating a turnover in Geneseo’s defensive zone. Geneseo tied the game early in the second period on the power play when sophomore Zachary Vit’s shot from the point got through traffic in front of the net past the Brockport goaltender. Senior Clint Olson and junior Corbin Rosmarin assisted on the play.

Geneseo took the lead early in the third with another power play goal. This time Vit made a long pass up to senior Jonathan Redlick who skated behind the Brockport defense and was able to finish for his fifth goal of the year. Vit leads the Ice Knights with 12 goals, 17 assists, and 29 points this season.

“With Vit up top now it’s given us a new look (on the power play),” Schultz added. “He just hammers pucks from up top and he’s doing a good job of getting those pucks through.”

With a 2-1 lead in the third, Geneseo took two penalties six seconds apart to give Brockport an extended two-man advantage. Geneseo killed it off but Brockport scored later in the third on the five-on-three power play with just under three minutes left in the game.

“You kill off one five on three, you consider that a bonus. Consider that guts and finding ways to block shots and sacrifice your body,” Schultz said. “Five on five we were the much better hockey team out there. I’m really disappointed in a couple of guys with the silly hooks and trips.”

Neither team scored the remainder of the third period or in overtime and the game ended in a 2-2 tie. Senior Cory Gershon made 36 saves in goal.

“I thought (Gershon) play a fantastic game and I’m happy for him,” Schultz said.

Despite Brockport’s power play goal late in the third, Geneseo special teams played well. The power play scored twice on six opportunities and while shorthanded, they killed off eight of nine penalties. The power play is now stands at 18.2% and the penalty kill is up to 78.6% for the year.

“It’s been a difficult ride this year in terms of special teams,” Schultz said. “Hopefully we can carry the special teams momentum into playoff time.”

Geneseo is now 5-7-1 in SUNYAC play and 11-10-1 for the season. Geneseo hosts Potsdam and Plattsburgh this weekend, looking to avenge two losses in the north country earlier this season.