#2 Adrian at #11 Cortland – Friday – November 8, 2024

We’re in Cortland, NY tonight at Alumni Arena for a unique matchup that’s never happened before between these two teams. #2 Adrian vs #11 Cortland. 

Cortland’s coming off a SUNYAC Championship and Adrian’s coming off a Frozen Four appearance. Head Coach Adam Phillips makes his first trip out east as HC of Adrian.

Cortland finally gets their chance to get their name known out west as most of their non-conference opponents are eastern-based teams. 

Earlier today, the Cortland Women ranked #7, shutout rival #3 Plattsburgh 2-0. Cortland’s unbeaten in their last pair of games vs Plattsburgh, dating back to last year’s SUNYAC Championship. Will we see another Top 5 upset?

1st Period

Both teams came out strong, Adrian looked a little slow to start and Cortland was flying early. The Red Dragons scored a quick three minutes into the period, it was #20 Sam Christiano with the early goal to give Cortland the 1-0 lead.

Adrian got their skates under them after a few minutes which led to a flurry of chances which eventually resulted in a Bulldogs goal by #21 Alec Lovisek to tie it at one apiece with 13 minutes left in the opening frame.

Both goaltenders; Shane Shelest & Dershahn Stewart, played very well as both teams created great chances and clusters in front of them, but them and their respective defenses kept it tied.

Cortland took a tripping penalty, #10 Evan Beaudry, with 4:09 left in the period. The Red Dragons proceeded to keep the puck in the Adrian end for the first minute of the penalty kill and then only allowed one chance after that, easily killing it off.

Adrian would give Cortland a powerplay after #23 Frank Tafelski is called for slashing with 1:18 left in the period. This would amount to a few Cortland chances, but Stewart stood tall and kept it 1-1 to end a great opening period of hockey.

2nd Period

Cortland started the period on the powerplay, which Adrian would kill off after a few chances were stopped by Stewart. 

Again, a quick 2:37 into the period, Cortland scores, it’s #8 Anthony Bernardo, putting his team up 2-1. 

The period would continue, and big saves continued to be made by Stewart, Cortland was flying early again like they did in the 1st period. 

Cortland’s Shelest made a stick save, aka, the stick was the only thing in front of an Adrian attacker and the shot deflected off and hit it into the netting, keeping it 2-1 Cortland.

Cortland had a questionable goal taken off the board, but after discussion, it’s granted a goal, as there was no real sign of goaltender interference, if there was any, it wasn’t noticeable. #3 Dino Mannetta gets the first of his career. 

Some big hits began to be delivered and shoving after the whistle, seems as though they aren’t friends. This led to Adrian using their size and becoming physical, which Cortland matched for a good portion of the period. 

Adrian was noticeably flustered, not playing their usual game, but the dam finally broke in the remaining seconds of the period. Adrian’s #34 Ian Amsbaugh took matters into his own hands and scored a goal to make it 3-2, then about 30 seconds later, scored a breakaway wrist-shot to tie the game 3-3 with 28 seconds left, which would end the period at a 3-3 tie. Amsbaugh seemed to have a few words for the crowd after the pair of goals and teams have to be separated heading into the locker rooms. 

3rd Period

In the final frame Adrian didn’t let off the gas from the 2nd period, scoring an early goal was #13 Brad Somers, less than a minute into the period (54 seconds). The Bulldogs have scored a trio of goals in about two minutes of play going back to the 2nd period, it’s Adrian 4-3.

Great save by Stewart, spreading out and keeping the goal-line chance out. Adrian then got a semi breakaway, and it was poked loose by the Cortland defender. 

#13 Brad Somers scores again, this time 4:28 into the period. Adrian leads 5-3, floodgates have opened up it seems for Cortland. 

HC Joe Cardarelli pulls his goalie, Shelest, who looked good early, but clearly isn’t in the right headspace after letting in four quick ones. #33 Evan Mobley enters the game.

Cortland picks up seven minutes of penalties on one play. First, a tripping penalty on #16 Josh Rumolo, saves a likely goal from Adrian. Then #21 Justin Legault with a  five-minute game misconduct for a hit-from-behind.

Cortland miraculously kills off both penalties unscathed against one of the historically best powerplay units in Division III. Mobley playing great for coming on the ice cold, no pun intended. 

During the penalty kill, Adrian had plenty of excellent chances, considering it was 5v3, and Cortland had a pair as well when it was 5v4, a 2v1 save by Stewart and a breakaway save by Stewart. Game stays 5-3 Adrian with less than 10 minutes to go.

Adrian picks up a late tripping penalty at 18:54, #12 Jake Suede. Cortland had an empty net for a few minutes. 

The game ends with a score of 5-3 Adrian and the Bulldogs get the first win of their trip out east, they’ll visit Oswego State tomorrow at 3pm ET.