CORTLAND, N.Y. – Sophomore Colin O’Connor (Kankakee, IL/Atlanta Capitals) scored his first goal of the season with 3:28 remaining in the game to break a 2-2 tie as the Buffalo St. men’s hockey team defeated Cortland, 3-2, in SUNYAC action Saturday night at Alumni Arena.
Senior Paul Fregeau (Los Angeles, CA/Des Moines Buccaneers) recorded a goal and an assist to lead the Red Dragons (1-6, 1-4 SUNYAC). Sophomore Stefano Alonzi (Maple, ON/Burlington Cougars) also netted a goal. Senior Tommy Nolan (Mahopac/Connecticut Oilers) and freshmen Tom Ritchie (Spencerport/New York PAL Islanders) and Logan Blaser (Aurora, ON/Brockville Braves) picked up assists. Senior goalie Drew Weigman (Annapolis, MD/Northern Cyclones) made 21 saves.
Senior Zach Nieminen (Ajax, ON/Ancaster Avalanche) tallied a goal and an assist for the Bengals (4-2-1, 1-2-1). Freshman Cody Symonds (Woodbridge, ON/Toronto Jr. Canadiens) added a goal, while four others each collected an assist. Senior goalie Ian Sylves (Sloan/Caledonia Corvairs) stopped 24 shots.
Fregeau gave Cortland a 1-0 lead at 11:23 of the opening period, scoring on a wrist shot as the Red Dragons skated with a two-man advantage. Symonds tied the game at 4:51 of the second period with a wrist shot from the left circle.
The Bengals took a 2-1 lead at 2:26 of the third period when Nieminen scored on a scramble in front. Alonzo tied the game at 12:51 with a slap shot from the left side off the rush. O’Connor netted the game winner with a wrist shot from the low slot. Cortland pulled Weigman for an extra skater with 45 seconds to play but could not tie the game.
Buffalo St. 3, Cortland 2
Score by periods:
Buffalo St. 0-1-2 3
Cortland 1-0-1 2
Scoring Summary (Goals-Assists)
Buffalo St.: Zach Nieminen 1-1, Cody Symonds 1-0, Colin O’Connor 1-0, Mac Wood 0-1, Sam Maddox 0-1, Anthony Passero 0-1, Jon Colley 0-1
Cortland: Paul Fregeau 1-1, Stefano Alonzi 1-0, Tommy Nolan 0-1, Tom Ritchie 0-1, Logan Blaser 0-1
Saves: Ian Sylves (Buffalo St.) 24 saves (2 GA in 60:00); Drew Weigman (Cortland) 21 saves (3 GA in 59:15), Empty Net :45
Shots on Goal: Cortland 26 (9-10-7), Buffalo St. 24 (6-8-10)
Penalties: Cortland 4-8:00, Buffalo St. 4-8:00
Power Play: Cortland 1-3, Buffalo St. 0-3
Records after game: Cortland (Red Dragons) 1-6, 1-4 SUNYAC; Buffalo St. (Bengals) 4-2-1, 1-2-1 SUNYAC
