MORRISVILLE, N.Y. – The Morrisville State Men’s Ice Hockey team used a strong second period and a two-goal effort from CJ Stubbs (Pleasant Grove, Vt.) to defeat SUNY Canton on the road in non-conference action on Friday night.
The Roos from SUNY Canton picked up a goal at 4:11 in the first period, but the Mustangs bounced back quickly 45 seconds later when Stevie Ray Adams (Akwesasne, Que.) banged home a rebound to knot the game up at 1-1.
Ten minutes later, the Mustangs found themselves skating down a man due to a hooking penalty. A key pass breakup by the Mustangs at the blue line put the Roos out of position as John Lauer (Syracuse, N.Y.) cleared the puck up to Nick DeVito (Averill Park, N.Y.) skating up the left side towards the Canton net. DeVito slid a pass to Stubbs, who found the back of the net for the short-handed goal and the 2-1 lead.
The Roos capitalized on a power play opportunity four minutes later to tie the game back up at 2-2.
Stubbs put the Mustangs back on top at the 4:24 mark in the second period after he knocked in the rebound from Layne Martin’s (Findley, Ohio) initial shot. However, SUNY Canton responded to the deficit once again, tying the game up at 3-3 at the 8:24 mark in the second period.
DeVito put the Mustangs up for good at 14:42 in the second period with a back hand goal for the 4-3 lead. Martin and Max Sund (Stockholm, Sweeden) picked up assists as the two set up the breakaway goal.
Both teams continued to battle it out offensively though out the remainder of the second period and into the third, matching each other shot for shot. Morrisville would be the team to capitalize though at the 7:05 mark in the third period. Lauer was able to break free for a one versus the goal tender, capitalizing on the opportunity to score his second goal of the season and give the visiting Mustangs a two-goal cushion.
Morrisville would ride out the remainder of the game, including a key penalty kill late in the third to secure the 5-3 road win.
The Mustangs and the Roos will face off once again tomorrow night but at a different location. SUNY Canton will make the return trip of the home and away series to Morrisville for a 7 PM puck drop.
