NORTHFIELD, VT. – SUNY Geneseo sophomore forward Tyson Empey recorded a hat trick but the Knights dropped their first contest of the new year, falling, 9-5, to the University of New England Nor’Easters in the first round of the Northfield Savings Bank Holiday Tournament on Friday afternoon at Norwich University.
HOW IT HAPPENED
UNE (9-3-1) netted a pair of early goals, taking a 2-0 lead on scores at the 1:55 mark and the 3:20 mark. Geneseo (8-4-1) responded with a power play goal with 12:13 remaining in the first half as sophomore forward Conlan Keenan found Empey on a two-on-one break for a score, making it 2-1.
The Nor’Easters regained a two-goal lead with 7:21 to play in the first period, but the Knights struck back with a goal under two minutes later. First-year forward Gordon Helmuth and first-year defender Kyle Hartman earned assists as Kelley buried a rebound to cut the Geneseo deficit to 3-2 with 14:18 expired in the first.
Before the end of the period, UNE scored again, this time on a deflected shot from the point, to take a 4-2 lead into the first intermission.
In the second period, Geneseo outshot its opponent 21-10, but the Nor’Easters capitalized on a five-minute power play, scoring three times during the man advantage to take a 7-2 lead.
UNE added on in the opening seconds of the third period, scoring a breakaway goal just 18 seconds into the period to take an 8-2 edge.
Junior forward Anthony Marra tacked on a goal for the Knights in the third period, netting an unassisted goal with 14:33 to play, making the score 8-3.
Empey scored a pair of goals in the third period, both coming on the power play, as the Knights tried to draw back into contention, but a late empty-net goal by UNE sealed the victory for the Nor’Easters.
QUICK FACTS
The Knights outshot the Nor’Easters 60-26, including a 25-4 advantage in the third period, marking the most shots for Geneseo in a game since Feb. 25, 2015.
Empey scored all three of his goals on the power play. He leads the Knights with 11 goals and five power play scores.
Junior goalkeeper Devin McDonald allowed three goals and made seven saves in 31:04 of game time, while first-year goalkeepers Dylan Schoen and Aaron MacKay each made appearances off the bench.
Junior defenseman Mitch Ferguson and Helmuth each finished with a pair of assists, while Hartman and Keenan each had one.
WHAT’S NEXT
Geneseo will compete in the Northfield Savings Bank Holiday Tournament consolation game, facing either Northland or host Norwich, with puck drop scheduled for Saturday at 4:00 p.m.
