[photoshelter-gallery g_id=”G0000GXmlPqhGoaY” g_name=”20141108-Potsdam-Brockport-AngeloLisuzzo” f_show_caption=”t” f_show_slidenum=”t” img_title=”casc” pho_credit=”iptc” f_link=”t” f_bbar=”t” fsvis=”f” width=”500″ height=”375″ bgcolor=”#AAAAAA” bgtrans=”t” btype=”old” bcolor=”#CCCCCC” crop=”f” trans=”xfade” tbs=”4000″ f_ap=”t” linkdest=”c” f_fullscreen=”f” f_constrain=”f” twoup=”f” f_topbar=”f” f_bbarbig=”” f_htmllinks=”f” f_enable_embed_btn=”f” f_show_watermark=”f” f_send_to_friend_btn=”f” f_smooth=”f” f_mtrx=”f” f_up=”f” target=”_self” wmds=”llQ6QNgpeC.p1Ucz7U.f2JblA2d_MzMCvNtUZIg6dG0Y_J2EtDQCFd3YDlu7xSE56g9B6w–” ]BROCKPORT, N.Y. – Brockport scored two third period power-play goals to erase a 2-1 deficit and defeat Potsdam, 3-2, for its first win of the season. The game-winning tally by freshman Dylan Shapiro from nearby Rochester at 15:51 was his first collegiate goal.
“Roller coaster for sure,” Brockport coach Brian Dickinson said. “I thought it would be an even game and a one-goal game going in, especially the way Chris [Bernard] has his kids playing. We wanted to build off what we thought was a real solid effort against Plattsburgh.”
“Credit to them,” Potsdam coach Chris Bernard said. “They battled through it. They got into penalty trouble early. Their penalty kill was outstanding. We didn’t execute getting pucks to the net. That was the story of the game.”
Potsdam jumped out to the early lead just 40 seconds after the opening faceoff. Matt Thompson tipped a shot from the right point by Vinny Caligiuri past Jared Lockhurst.
Four minutes later, Brockport tied the game. The Bears gave the puck away while trying to exit their zone. The sudden change in transition caught their defensemen flatfooted. This enabled Zac Sikich to get behind the defense, accept a perfectly placed pass by Chase Nieuwendyk, and redirect it past Jon Hall.
Then, Brockport got called for one penalty after another, taking seven of the first eight transgressions. Potsdam was finally able to take advantage of one of them, scoring with one second left on the fourth power play.
Trevor Cope notched the goal at 8:49 of the second period. His seemingly harmless wrist shot from the inside of the left circle snuck through a crowd and a surprised Lockhurst.
Despite that goal, Dickinson was happy with his penalty kill, saying, “We got ourselves into penalty trouble. We battled through it. I thought Jared was great when we needed him to be.”
Just like the night before, Potsdam was defending a 2-1 lead in the third period. This time, the Bears were unable to rise to the challenge.
Now it was Potsdam’s turn to get into penalty trouble, getting called for the last four infractions. Nieuwendyk tied the game on the second of those at 12:17. Potsdam failed to clear the puck, resulting in a scramble in front which eventually saw the puck sneak through all the bodies into the net.
Shapiro got the final score streaking toward the net and depositing a rebound near side.
“We drew them into a couple of penalties and tonight was a nice night to finally get our power play working,” Dickinson said.
“They got pucks to the net when they had to on their power play, and you see the result,” Bernard said.
Potsdam called a time out at this point. As the game wound down, the Bears lost any opportunity to tie it when they were called for too many men on the ice with just 1:14 left. They still pulled their goalie late, but never applied any pressure.
Lockhurst made 40 saves for the win. Brockport is now 9-1-1 in its last 11 matchups at home against Potsdam.
Potsdam (2-2-0, 1-2-0) returns home next weekend to host Fredonia and Buffalo State.
Brockport (1-3-1, 1-1-0) stays home to host its regional rival, Geneseo, on Friday. The Golden Eagles then play a nonconference game against a fellow SUNY school, Canton. Both games are part of the Saves for a Cure Weekend fundraiser promoted by former Brockport goalie Todd Sheridan.
