CORTLAND, N.Y. — Junior Oliver Janzen scored the game-tying goal with 50 seconds left in regulation Saturday for visiting Nazareth as the Golden Flyers battled to a 2-2 tie in a non-conference men’s hockey game.
Janzen’s goal was his second of the season and came with freshman goalie Michael Tilford on the bench in favor of an extra skater. The tie enabled the Golden Flyers to snap a three-game losing streak as their record changed to 4-6-2 overall. Cortland is 4-5-1. Nazareth is now off until Dec. 30-31 when the Golden Flyers play at the Northfield Savings Bank Tournament at Norwich.
“This was a much better effort,” said Nazareth Coach George Roll. “We’re still struggling to score, but overall this was a step in the right direction. That’s the way we have to play to be successful.”
Nazareth led 1-0 heading into the third period, but Cortland rallied to take a 2-1 lead on goals by Stefano Alonzi and Martin Lavallee. Nazareth continued to apply pressure by outshooting the Red Dragons 12-6 in the final 20 minutes and 47-28 overall.
Nazareth had a power-play opportunity following a penalty to Cortland’s Tommy Nolan for hooking at 16:59. Nazareth also pulled Tilford to gain a 6×4 advantage, but Cortland was able to kill off the penalty. Tilford stayed on the bench after the penalty expired and Nazareth finally profited when Janzen scored with assists from J.R. Wojciechowski and James McDonald. Tilford reentered the game and was called upon to make a save in the closing seconds to force the overtime.
Each team had one shot in the five-minute overtime — Brad Pizzey for Nazareth and Casie Garrison for Cortland — before the game ended in a tie.
Nazareth dominated the first period with a 15-6 advantage in shots, but the game was scoreless after 20 minutes as Red Dragons’ goaltender Chris Bastone stopped all 15 shots.
Nazareth finally broke through at 1:50 of the second period as senior Dominik Gabaj scored his team-leading eighth goal of the season with assists from Janzen and Austin Romzek. The score went unchanged until Cortland tied the score on Alonzi’s goal at 1:18 of the third. Each team had chances on the power play, but we upable to convert. Nazareth went 0-for-5, including 0-for-2 in the third period. Cortland was 0-for-3 with all of its chances in the second period.
Tilford, making his first career start, played well in goal with 26 saves.
