Geneseo 2
Box Score Williams Recap Geneseo Recap
Arthur Gordon scored twice in the first and Devin McDonald made 31 saves as Geneseo held on for a 2-1 win to end Williams' season. The only goal for Williams came midway through the third, just after the end of a power play, when Luke Stickel worked it from the corner to Colby Cretella our in front and Cretella subsequently buried it upstairs past McDonald's glove.
The Ephs outshot the Knights by six (thanks to an aggressive third period) and did a good job of staying out of the box for a potent Geneseo Power Play (0/1). Coach Bill Kangas' krew also did a good job of shutting down the 50+ goal line of Collins-Mara-Hill. In the end, it was the Knights freshman that did the Ephs in, from Gordon's two goals assisted by fellow first yera Broddie Tutton and the unphased performance by McDonald. The Ephs own freshman goalie Michael Pinios was also solid, allowing zero goals in the final two periods and making 24 saves overall.
Speaking of freshman, Ephs first liner Roberto Cellini, who was carted off after an injury by the boards in the 1st round win over Salem State, did not play. That was to be expected, but unless I am mistaken, it appears that Tyler Young was also out, unexpectedly, and seldom used Tyler Carmolla and Marcus Mollicia dressed.
Regardless of the lineup shuffle, the Ephs played a strong game and ended up losing a tight one to a good, hot team. The Knights outscored their last three opponents in the SUNY-AC semis/finals and NCAA 1st round by a combined score of 20-3 before the matchup with Williams.
The win sends the Knights to Lake Placid for the D-III Final Four, along with fellow 2014 Final Four participants U-Wisconsin Stevens Point and St. Norbert. NESCAC fans might remember the Pointers as the team that Trinity defeated in the finals last season. Pointers fans will remember St. Norbert's as the team that defeated them in the 2014 finals. The pair of Knights (St. Norbert and Geneseo) and Pointers will be joined by UMass-Boston - the team that blanked Trinity in this year's opening round - in Lake Placid. The Beacons are making their first appearance in both the NCAA D-III Tournament and thus the Final Four (or Phrozen Phour, not to be confused with the D-I Frozen Four). They blanked Hobart last night at The Cooler in Geneva, NY to punch a ticket to Herb Brooks Arena.
If there is a team with a narrative that would make the end of the NESCAC season a little more palatable, it is the Knights. In mid-January, the Geneseo community was shocked by a three person murder-suicide that included senior hockey defenseman Matthew Hutchinson among its victims.
For the Ephs, they end their first trip to the NCAA Tournament with their heads held high and a school record 19 wins for the season. They'll lose key pieces like NESCAC Player of the Year Zander Massuci, but they'll also return their top four goal scorers and the reigning Second Team All-NESCAC goalie in now frosh Michael Pinios.
It was another exciting season of NESCAC men's ice hockey. 226 days until 2016-17 team activities begin! Congrats to the Geneseo Knights and the rest of the participants in next week's Final Four. We look forward to sending a NESCAC team to the Aud in Utica, home of Bowdoin alum Jon Landry's AHL team, the Utica Comets, and site of the 2017 NCAA D-III MIH Final Four.
Thank you to our 2000+ fans for your support! See you in Lake Placid, NY! pic.twitter.com/hSo9d6wRjo— Geneseo Ice Knights (@GeneseoHockey) March 20, 2016
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