Dragons outscore Alvernia with ease
Cortland dominated the second period.
FINAL: Cortland 5, Alvernia 2
Sensational second period lifts Dragons
PICTURED: Cortland grad student Nate Berke rips shot past sliding Alvernia freshman Christian Heckman
READING, PA — A shorthanded goal for Cortland opened the floodgates. The Red Dragons quickly followed the score with four more goals, totaling five in the middle frame. The game was as physical as it was lopsided, with each team racking up multiple roughing penalties.
Hobart edges Cortland in exhibition
The Red Dragons learned a valuable lesson.
FINAL (OT): Hobart 2, Cortland 1
Statesmen force OT in final second
PICTURED: Cortland senior Domenic Settimo and Hobart senior Matthew Perryman skate toward the puck
CORTLAND, NY — The Red Dragons were less than thrilled to be entering overtime.
Cortland was protecting a one-goal lead late in the third period, and had a chance to double that cushion with a mid-ice look at an empty net. The puck sailed wide right.
The Statesmen took possession and quickly pushed the puck into Dragon territory. After a scramble near Cortland’s net, the game was suddenly tied with one second on the scoreboard.
Hobart carried that momentum into overtime, scoring roughly two minutes after play resumed. A sea of orange rushed onto the ice.
For Cortland, it was a tough loss against the reigning NCAA DIII champions. The lesson learned, though, was valuable: Play with fire until all zeros are on the game clock.
Cortland cruises in preseason win
The Red Dragons dominated the game.
FINAL: Niagara 0, Cortland 5
Dragons dominate in exhibition
PICTURED: Cortland freshman Conor Humphrey corners the puck
CORTLAND, NY — Cortland looked sharp in a rather uneventful night. The Red Dragons found the net five times, though no goal horns or arena music sounded. A scary moment came in the third period, when Cortland junior Stephen Kyrkostas left the game with a shoulder injury.
Plymouth pushes past Cortland
The game played out like a fierce rivalry.
FINAL: Cortland 2, Plymouth State 5
Dragons fall in NCAA tournament
PICTURED: Plymouth State junior Brady Morrison blows by Cortland senior Nate Berke
PLYMOUTH, NH — Prior to Saturday, Cortland hadn’t faced Plymouth State in 15 years. The game played out like a fierce rivalry between familiar foes.
The teams combined for over two dozen penalties — most came in the second period. Midway through the middle frame is when the violence volcano erupted.
During a scuffle behind the Red Dragons’ net, Plymouth sophomore Payton Schaly ripped the helmet off Cortland senior A.J. Przystawski. The rink then became a wrestling mat as Przystawski landed a diving blow to Schaly’s head. Both players were tossed.
Off the ice, the theatrics continued: Schaly slashed his stick against the wall, and Przystawski — hearing boos from the home crowd — cradled his crotch in jest. The fans were amused by the gesture.
PICTURED: Cortland senior A.J. Przystawski jaws with the crowd
Heading into the final period, the Dragons found themselves down 2-1. Cortland would tie the game with a sliding score by sophomore Colby Seitz. Panthers’ goalie Kalle Andersson was furious because Seitz had barreled into the net like a freight train, causing the goal posts to be dislodged. After review, the score stood.
Three minutes later, more drama ensued in front of the Panthers’ net. Cortland sophomore Stephen Kyrkostas was whistled for goaltender interference after colliding with Andersson. Plymouth converted on the power play and regained the lead.
The Panthers would add a couple more late goals to make the score 5-2. The home fans waved goodbye to the Dragons as the game — and Cortland’s season — came to a close.
Cortland cages Cardinals in SUNYAC FINAL
Cortland hushed the crowd in a thrilling win.
FINAL (OT): Cortland 3, Plattsburgh 2
Dragons hush crowd in thrilling win
PICTURED: Cortland senior Geordan Buffoline and Plattsburgh junior Jack Ring hunt down the puck
PLATTSBURGH, NY — Rowdy Plattsburgh fans set the tone before the opening puck drop: in between thunderous claps, the student section roared “F**K—YOU—CORT—LAND.”
It was time to play hockey.
Early in the first period, Cortland senior A.J. Przystawski said hello with a monstrous hit. Plattsburgh senior Bennett Stockdale then replied by flattening a Cortland player against the boards. Bennett was penalized for the bone-crunching hit, but the Red Dragons couldn’t cash in on the power play.
The game stayed scoreless for most of the second frame, until Cortland sophomore Colby Seitz poked one between the pipes. The goal temporarily silenced the Plattsburgh crowd.
PICTURED: The Red Dragons smile and shout after winning their first-ever SUNYAC championship
At the tail end of the second period, drama ensued in front of the Dragons’ net. Cortland senior Nate Berke got whistled for cross-checking, which lit a fuse on the visitors’ bench. Cortland Head Coach Joe Cardarelli was beyond furious — slamming his hands on the boards and screaming at a referee. His anger was justified when Plattsburgh scored on the power play just seconds into the third period.
The score remained tied for the next 15 minutes, until Berke avenged the cross-checking penalty by driving the puck into the Cardinals’ net. Some disgruntled Plattsburgh fans started to exit. Reality was setting in.
Then, at the eleventh hour — a plot twist. Plattsburgh scored an empty-net goal, and a whirlwind of white rally rags energized the arena. The game was headed to overtime.
After the Zamboni glazed the ice, both teams traded scoring chances. But it was Cortland junior Anthony Bernardo who at last ended the game with a flick of the wrist. All the Cardinals could do was stare as the Dragons hollered and hurled their gloves into the air.