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CONTACT: Jerry Reilly,
Sports Information Director

DATE: Fri., Feb. 25, 2005

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Hockey

Late Geneseo goal forges 3-3 playoff tie

GENESEO, N.Y. – Geneseo scored with 21 seconds left Friday to forge a 3-3 tie with Fredonia State in their SUNYAC Tournament semifinal series.

Michel Bond scored on a power play and ruined a bid by the Blue Devils (16-5-5) to gain the upper hand heading into Saturday night.

Geneseo (15-6-4) will again host the Blue Devils with the winner advancing to the SUNYAC championship series next weekend.

Sophomore Matt Zeman (Rocky River, Ohio), sophomore Kyle Bozoian (St. Charles, Mo.), and sophomore Kraig Kuzma (Muskegon, Mich.) scored the Blue Devil goals.

Junior goaltender Rick Cazares (San Jose, Calif.) made 21 saves.

Fredonia State outshot Geneseo, 30-24.

The Blue Devils dominated the play in the first period, outshot Geneseo 8-1, but had nothing to show for it.

Zeman broke the ice early in the first period with a power-play goal. It was his fifth goal of the post-season (including the mini-game Feb. 19 vs. Cortland).

Geneseo appeared to tie the game later in the period, twice, only to have the officials wave off the would-be goals. On the first, the officials ruled the puck was directed into the net by a Geneseo player's hand. On the second, the officials ruled the Blue Devils -- who were about to be penalized -- had control of the puck before the apparent scoring shot was taken.

After killing the penalty, the Blue Devils then went back to controlling the play. Geneseo goaltender Brett Walker was called on to make several brilliant stops, including two from close range midway through the period.

Geneseo's best scoring chance in the second period came on a power-play in the final minute when a shot glanced off the post. The power play carried over into the third period, and that would prove to be important. Following a Fredonia State turnover, Jason Kuczmanski cashed in 34 seconds into the period for a 1-1 tie.

The tie was shortlived. Bozoian intercepted a centering pass and scored on a breakaway for a 2-1 Blue Devil lead.

Momentum shifted right back to Geneseo when two Blue Devils were penalized at the same time. Geneseo's 5-on-3 advantage resulted in a power-play goal by Chris Tarr and a 2-2 tie.

Kuzma's wrist shot from along the boards eluded Walker and gave the Devils another one-goal lead, 3-2, with 12:12 remaining in regulation.

Geneseo got its final chance to tie in regulation when, with left, Fredonia State took a penalty. When Walker left his next in favor of an extra skater, the Ice Knights had a 6-on-4 advantage. Bond scored with 21 seconds left on a deflection, his team's third power-play goal of the game, to send the game into the scoreless overtime.

In the other SUNYAC semifinal Friday, Plattsburgh defeated Oswego, 3-2, in overtime. Game 2 of the series is 7 p.m. Saturday at Oswego.

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