Senior forward Troy Polino (Limerick, PA) and goalie Aaron Green's (Mt. Albert, ONT) stellar performances led The College at Brockport to a 3-1 victory over State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) rival Cortland Saturday evening during senior night on the campus of Brockport.
Polino finished the game with two assists and Green finished the game with 34 saves. Green proved to be victorious in his efforts against Cortland as the Red Dragons applied lots of pressure in the second and third periods. Green was tested with 30 shots, while only one Cortland shot was able to get by in the second period.
Brockport (11-10-2, 5-7-2 SUNYAC) struck first when freshman Zac Sikich (Oak Park, CA) sent a shot past Cortland's goalie with more than five minutes before the first intermission. Ryan Kangas (Williamstown, MA) initially had the puck before sending it to Polino, Polino then passed the puck to Sikich who buried the shot for the 1-0 Golden Eagle lead.
Kangas was the next to score, as the goal was yet again set up by Polino in what proved to be the game-winner. The Golden Eagles scored their final goal of the game minutes later with 12:21 remaining in the second period. Jake Taylor (Port Perry, ONT) scored his fifth goal of the season with Aidan Verbeke (Elmwood Park, IL) and Chase Nieuwendyk (Georgetown, ONT) picking up assists.
The Golden Eagles killed a penalty with four minutes left in the second period before giving up the lone Red Dragons goal seconds later.
Green continued his stellar play in the third period denying a plethora of shots from different angles, while the Green and Gold defense put their bodies on the line to help Green as much as they could. Several of Cortland's shots were blocked by Golden Eagles in the closing minutes of the game as the Red Dragons pulled their goalie with less than three minutes remaining in the contest to gain the man advantage.
Brockport has two SUNYAC contests remaining next weekend. The Golden Eagles travel to Buffalo State Friday February 20 and Fredonia Feb. 21 with the puck dropping at 7 pm for both games.
