“Hockey is a finicky game,” Brockport coach Brian Dickinson said.
Despite being outplayed most of the game, Geneseo found a way to defeat
Brockport, 3-1, thanks to two goals by Kevin Galan and superb
goaltending by Derek Jokic who made 29 saves.
“We’re in a position we have to find a way to win,” Geneseo coach Chris Schultz said.
Brockport came out flying in the first period, outshooting the Ice
Knights, 11-3. Chris Koras redirected a shot just wide. Geoff
Schweikhand tipped the puck just over the crossbar. In the waning
seconds, Jokic came up with no less than four great saves.
“He’s by far the reason we were tied zero-zero after one,” Schultz
said. “We were lucky to get out of there zero-zero. The first period
on the road is always going to be tough especially against a hungry
team. Three shots on goal is pretty much unacceptable.”
“I don’t know if we lost it then, but it certainly didn’t help,”
Dickinson said about not scoring in the first period.
“We dominate the first period,” Dickinson said. “We come out strong on
the first shift of the second period and get a penalty. That caused us
to lose our focus.”
That also caused Brockport to lose the lead. Galan converted on that
power play for the 1-0 lead. Brockport’s coverage broke down, leaving
Galan open in front of the net. He received a pass from behind the net
by Trent Cassan and roofed the shot.
“Just in terms of momentum and maintaining that positive attitude on the
bench, it’s huge,” Schultz said about scoring the first goal. “Just
trying to score that first goal, you hope it takes the wind out of their
sails and you can build on that momentum. We were able to do that tonight.”
Halfway through the period, Geneseo converted on their third, and final,
power play. They passed the puck quickly around and then Jonathan
Dulude made a quick crossing pass causing Brockport to once again lose
sight of their coverage. Dan Sullivan quickly one-timed a shot past
Greg Van’t Hof who didn’t have time to get across the net.
“Unfortunately, we made a couple of big mistakes while killing
penalties, and that was the difference in the game,” Dickinson said.
Brockport had twice as many power play opportunities including a string
of three in row in the third period, two of which overlapped, but could
not convert.
“Unfortunately they were two for three on the power play, and we were
zero for six,” Dickinson said. “To Geneseo’s credit, they were very
disciplined in the box. We did get some great looks there in the third
period.”
“We had a good idea what they were going to do,” Schultz said. “And we
figured, if they are going to get opportunities, they are going to have
to be perimeter shots and pack it in and make sure we get rebounds. We
were simple. We blocked shots at critical times in the game especially
in the third period.”
Brockport did finally convert in the third period before the power plays
started. It was an ugly goal.
“We’re not going to score the pretty goal,” Dickinson said. “We’re a
blue collar team.”
Geneseo was unable to clear a loose puck in the crease, and Brockport
crashed the net. Steve Seedhouse whacked at it, and the puck bounced
over Jokic, barely across the line.
Before Brockport could pull their goalie, Geneseo clinched it with less
than a minute-and-a-half left. Van’t Hof went down to block a Galan
shot who was racing down the left side. However, as the puck went
behind Van’t Hof, he didn’t know where it was. Galan continued skating
and tipped the puck in.
“With the exception of a couple of power plays, we controlled the game,”
Dickinson said. “Fifty out of 60 minutes, we’re the better team.”
Brockport (1-3-1, 2-5-1) stays home to play Hobart Sunday afternoon,
then they get a break over the holidays.
“It’s been a long semester so far,” Dickinson said of the upcoming
break. “We played a lot of hockey. Send the guys home for a week and
not think about hockey. Then we’ll go up north [Plattsburgh and
Potsdam] knowing we have to get some points to stay in it.”
Geneseo (4-3-0, 4-5-0) starts their break now before joining Brockport
in the North Country.
“I told the guys before he game you got to find a way to win,” Schultz
said. “You just have to find a way. They weathered through a tough
penalty kill, they weathered through a tough first period. They found a
way to do it.”
