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.