By: Ricky Webster
(
BOX SCORE)
BUFFALO, N.Y.-- The Fredonia State men's hockey team held on for a SUNYAC victory Friday night, taking down the Buffalo State Bengals 6-4 at Buffalo State. The win marks the seventh victory in the last nine contests for the Devils.
Fredonia State jumped out to a 5-1 lead, and held off a Bengals' rally to improve to 5-6 in the conference and 10-10. The win gave the Devils 10 points, moving them within one point of a three-way tie for fourth place with Morrisville State and the Bengals. Buffalo State fell to 4-4-3 in the conference and 8-9-3 overall.
The Devils opened the scoring in the first period.
Ben Waldman and
Billy Sanborn each recorded a goal 15 seconds apart. Waldman's goal came at the 5:39 mark, while Sanborn's was registered at 5:54. With the addition of goals by
Andrew Christ and Bradley Nunn, the Devils carried a 4-1 lead into the second period.
Waldman increased the lead to 5-1 with his second goal of the game. Nick Petriello, the Bengals' points leader, scored a goal at the 8:33 mark of the second period. Two more goals by the Bengals brought the score to within one as the second period ended.
Steve Rizer and
Chris de Bruyn held the defense together to seal the victory for the Devils in the third period. Rizer assisted on an
Alex Morton goal with under two minutes remaining in the game. De Bruyn added two assists in the game.
Jeff Holloway improved to 4-4 with the victory after recording eigh saves.
Mark Friesen added nine saves in relief of Holloway.
The Devils have five games remaining on their schedule, all SUNYAC contests. The first of the five is an away match against Geneseo on Friday, Feb. 4 at 7 p.m. Geneseo currently sits in second place with 13 points.
