Dragons toy with Mustangs

FINAL: Morrisville 2, Cortland 6

Dragons never trail in triumph

PICTURED: Cortland freshman Conor Humphrey separates from a trio of Mustangs

CORTLAND, NY — The Red Dragons brought a balanced attack to home ice, tallying two goals in each period. The most significant score came with 13 seconds remaining in the middle frame: Cortland freshman Conor Humphrey deflected the puck past Morrisville goalie Grant Linville, dismantling any momentum the Mustangs had built. The only sneer the visiting team was able to sneak in was a vicious hit on Cortland junior Stephen Kyrkostas, which made the Morrisville fans ooh and aah.

Cortland manhandles Manhattanville

FINAL: Manhattanville 2, Cortland 6

Dragons surge in second period

PICTURED: Cortland grad student Nate Berke dekes past Manhattanville sophomore Caden Eaton

CORTLAND, NY — In front of a packed crowd on Youth Hockey Night, the Red Dragons put on a spectacular show. After a pair of early goals, Cortland poured gasoline on the fire with four scores in the second period. With the game in hand in the final frame, Cortland junior Evan Beaudry delivered a monstrous hit that was heard all the way to Manhattan.

Cortland unravels against Nazareth

FINAL: Nazareth 5, Cortland 4

Ugly third period haunts Dragons

PICTURED: Cortland junior Stephen Kyrkostas closes in on Nazareth sophomore Nate Mann

CORTLAND, NY — It was a third period to forget for Cortland.

Up two goals with 20 minutes to play, the Red Dragons came undone on the defensive end. Cortland gave up a quick score, then slipped up again by committing a penalty. Freshman Dino Mannetta was flabbergasted as he entered the box.

“Seriously?” he exclaimed at the ref.

Eight seconds of game time later, Cortland was in serious trouble as Nazareth tied the score.

The nightmare continued midway through the third, when Nazareth sophomore Daisuke Egusa whacked the puck into the net. The Cortland crowd was in shock as the visitors hooted and hollered.

Still, there was hope. Nazareth committed back-to-back penalties after the score, giving Cortland four minutes on the power play. The Dragons, though, could not pull through.

The loss marked Cortland’s third straight defeat on home ice. Remarkably, the team remains unbeaten on the road.

Cortland clamps Wilkes on the road

FINAL: Cortland 3, Wilkes 2

Dragons conquer Colonels in PA

PICTURED: Cortland freshman Matthew DeSpirt steers the puck away from flailing Wilkes senior Max Cocchi

WILKES-BARRE, PA — The well-rested Red Dragons wasted no time lighting up the scoreboard.

After four weeks of winter break, Cortland tallied two goals in the first period. A collision in the crease nearly nulled the second score, but after review, the goal stood.

Later in the first frame, the Dragons had a chance to extend the lead to three. Senior Domenic Settimo found himself on a shorthanded breakaway, but could not slip the puck past Wilkes goalie Jack Perna. The 6-foot-3 netminder would again stand tall in the second period, stuffing Settimo on another breakaway.

In the final frame, it was Cortland goalie Ronan Mobley who came up big. The junior from California opened the period with a golden two-on-one stop. Cortland’s defense stayed strong in the closing minutes, clearing the puck several times into Colonels territory.

The few Cortland fans in attendance clapped and cheered when the clock hit zero. They traveled four hours round-trip to catch the Dragons on top.

Cortland goes cold against Curry

FINAL: Curry 5, Cortland 1

Dragons freeze on offense

PICTURED: Cortland freshman Conor Humphrey handles the puck

CORTLAND, NY — On a cold Sunday afternoon, Cortland came out even colder. The Red Dragons quickly found themselves down two scores, and by the second intermission, that deficit had doubled. Curry iced the game with a fifth goal in the final frame.