BOXSCORE
FREDONIA, N.Y. -- Fredonia State hung on for a 4-2 non-conference win over Elmira at the Steele Hall Natatorium on Friday.
Taylor Bourne (Calgary, Alberta) had two goals while
Stephen Castriota (Bellport) and
Jared Wynia (Calgary, Alberta) had one goal each as the Blue Devils improved to 5-6-0.
Greg Whittle (Owen Sound, Ont.) and Brian Depp (Fenton, Mich.) had the Elmira goals. The Soaring Eagles fell to 4-6-0.
The teams played a scoreless first period with Fredonia State having the best chance in the final seconds -- a 2-on-1 rush resulting in a shot by
Alex Perkins (St. Albert, Alberta) and a sliding save by Elmira goaltender Darren MacDonald (Stittsville, Ont.).
Fredonia State scored three times in the second period.
An Elmira turnover deep in their own end led to first Blue Devil goal, a one-timer by Bourne from the left circle. Minutes later, Bourne made it 2-0 following an odd-man rush out of Fredonia State's defensive end. The goals were his third and fourth of the season.
The Blue Devils then scored their first short-handed goal of the season to take a 3-0 lead. Castriota picked up a loose puck and rushed up ice, which drew MacDonald out of his net. An Elmira defensemen slowed Castriota near the blue line, yet he stepped away from the check and skated in alone on the vacated net. It was Castriota's second goal of the year.
The Elmira offense came alive midway through the third period. First Whittle, then Depp scored to cut the Blue Devil lead to 3-2 with just under six minutes remaining.
Following a Fredonia State timeout, it appeared Elmira's Mike Morikawa tied the score with a shot from the slot following wing-to-wing passing with linemate Jesper Strale. Yet the puck slid through the crease and play continued.
Castriota nearly scored a second short-handed goal late in the period, only to have MacDonald make a pad save. The Elmira goaltender went to the bench for an extra attacker yet the Soaring Eagles were unable to mount a scoring threat.
Wynia put a punctuation mark on the night with an empty net goal with 1.1 seconds left.
The teams will play Saturday at Elmira starting at 7 p.m.
