By Warren Kozireski —
On paper the Cortland men’s start to the 2001-02 season at 7-1-1 or 1992-93 with a team record 19 wins are probably the best in team history, but with the strength of schedule and quality wins, one might argue that this season is on par at 7-2-1.
They have victories over then top-five ranked Hobart (11/13) and receiving votes Brockport (11/20) and a signature tie against nationally top-ranked Geneseo (11/19).
Add one-goal road losses to Oswego (11/12), a team that has made the conference championship in each of the last two years played, and an overtime loss to perennial contender Plattsburgh (11/5) and the comparison becomes more viable.
And there is lots of local influence to that early success in that five of the team’s top scorers through Dec. 3 hail from New York State.
Junior defenseman Nick Grupp (Depew) leads the balanced offense in assists with seven and points with nine. He scored his first two collegiate goals in the season-opening win against Lebanon Valley and already has his collegiate career high in points.
Freshman forward Domenic Settimo (East Meadow) leads the Red Dragons with five goals and sophomore forward Sutter Donegan (Cicero) is tied for second with four goals including his first collegiate tally in the Plattsburgh overtime loss.
Sophomore forward Nate Berke (Williamsville/St. Joseph’s) and senior forward Michael Sciore (Syracuse) are tied for eighth on the squad with five points each. Berke also netted his first as a collegian in the Plattsburgh contest while Sciore is tied for fourth on the team with four assists.
Cortland had one last weekend in the first half of the season hosting conference games with Buffalo State (12/10) and Fredonia (12/11), winning both games, before a three-week holiday break.
(Cortland Men’s Hockey Photo)
