Men's hockey team sustains defensive pressure on Potsdam

Undefeated Plattsburgh continues winning streak, leaves Blue Devils scoreless

CALEE PRINDLE
Staff Writer

Darcie Hennard/ Photo Editor

Defenseman Steve Albert clears the puck out of Fredonia territory during Fridays game.

The Fredonia men's hockey team participated in back-to-back games entering the second weekend of November. Coming off of a tough away loss to Geneseo, the Blue Devils were looking for a ray of hope as they faced the Potsdam Bears on Friday Nov. 9.

Attacking the net on power play opportunities proved to be offensive success for the Blue Devils Senior defender Steve Albert registered the first goal of the game early in the first period on a power play chance. Right behind Albert was senior forward Neal Sheehan who tallied the second goal of the game off of another power play opportunity with an impressive screened shot from junior forward Bryan Goudy.

The Blue Devils headed into the second period with a solid 2-0 lead.

Fredonia would not maintain a shutout for much longer as freshman forward Kevin MacLellan marked the first goal for Potsdam in the second period on a power play advantage. The Blue Devils reeled back to retain a 3-1 lead as freshman forward Jordan Oye made a remarkable feed to Goudy, which left Goudy the ability to tap the puck in Potsdam's net, allowing the Blue Devils their third and final goal of the game.

The Bears answered the Blue Devils as they turned two power play opportunities into goals during the second and third periods leaving the score 3-3 as the clock ticked down to end regulation play. Neither team would score during overtime, which capped the game off with a final score of 3-3. Fredonia's junior goaltender Kevin Amborski totaled 32 saves in the net.

"Intensity should be the same all of the time," said Head Coach Jeffrey Meredith. "Our performance against Potsdam lacked a necessary spark of intensity to take the win."

As the Blue Devils added a tie to their record, there was no time for rest as they were scheduled to take on the undefeated Plattsburgh Cardinals the following night.

Plattsburgh freshman goaltender Bryan Hince was the focus of the night. Hince's superior shutout, with a staggering 40 of 40 shots blocked, was Fredonia's offensive downfall. Hince saved two Blue Devil breakaways in the second period to maintain Plattsburgh's 1-0 lead.

Senior forward Adam Haberman intercepted a Plattsburgh pass then skated alone into Fredonia's offensive zone but was stopped by the brick wall of Hince. Another breakaway opportunity occurred when senior defender Steve Albert hopped out of the penalty box to receive the puck from his fellow defense allowing the second breakaway. Hince covered the puck adding to his stellar tally of saves.

A humble Hince did not soak up all the glory.

"My defensemen are very cooperative and trusting when it comes to our defensive zone coverage," Hince said. "We listen to each other which makes the game easier by communicating on the ice."

The Cardinals would go on to score two more times in the second period, allowing them to head back to Plattsburgh preserving their undefeated record with a shutout of 3-0 against Fredonia.

Even with the many five-on-three penalty kills, Fredonia's sophomore goaltender Pat Street ended the game with an exceptional 43 saves.

Meredith continued to comment on the weekend by pinpointing what needs to be focused on to be successful in future games.

"Our penalty kill has to improve as well as better and more constructive fore-check," Meredith said. "This will result in generating more shots."

The Blue Devils head on the road through the month of December in hope of victory, which Amborski believes is possible.

"Blue devil hockey has always been about 'doing the little things and the big things will happen.'"Amborski said. "We need to get back to doing that and the wins will happen on their own through our hard work."

Fredonia will take on Wentworth at 7 p.m. on Saturday Jan. 5 at home.