Geneseo, NY – The Curry Men's Ice Hockey team defeated the SUNY Geneseo Knights on Saturday in the first round of the NCAA Tournament by a final score of 3-0. With the win the Colonels move to 21-5-1 on the season, and advance to take on the #1 team in the country, Hobart. The two teams met in the same round last year, with Hobart winning 5-1. The Knights end their season with a record of 21-6-0.
The two teams played slow to begin, feeling each other out. It wasn't until when the Colonels drew a pair of power plays midway through the first period that either team got on the board, as Tao Ishizuka found the back of the net on a five on three advantage. His goal came on a slap shot off a pass from Matt Connor, putting the Colonels up 1-0. After a scoreless second period, the third period saw the Knights put on the pressure, but the Colonels found their insurance goal with just under nine minutes remaining in the game, as Jesse Galassi scored. Gage Dill then put home the empty net goal with under a minute remaining, giving the Colonels a 3-0 win.
Shane Soderwall was the star of the game, stopping all 35 shots he faced. The CCC's rookie and goalie of the year outplayed his opponent, Adam Harris, who was the SUNYAC goalie of the year. Eelis Laaksonen was a machine in the faceoff circle, winning 15 of his 20 draws.
The win marks the first time in program history that the Colonels have won a road NCAA Tournament game.
Up Next – The Colonels will look for revenge, as they take on the team that ended their season last year, #1 Hobart next Saturday at 7pm.
