CORTLAND, N.Y. - Cortland scored three goals in the game's first 10 minutes and the Red Dragons went on to defeat visiting Becker College, 5-1, in a non-league game at Alumni Arena.
Tommy Nolan (Mahopac/Connecticut Oilers) led Cortland (5-6-3) with two goals and one assist.
Michael Crowley (Buffalo/Springfield Blues) finished with a goal and an assist, with
Andrew McCann (Bowmanville, ON/Wellington Dukes)and
Dan Broderick (White Plains/NY PAL Islanders) each scoring once. Goalie
Drew Weigman (Gaithersburg, MD/Northern Cyclones) turned aside 34 of the 35 shots on goal that he faced for the victory.
Brandon Morgan (Rochester/Syracuse Stars) scored the lone goal for Becker (5-8). Tyler Stepke (Mars, PA/Three Rivers Vengeance) started in goal but was pulled after allowing three goals and making seven saves in 9:02. Gregg Hussey (Medford, MA/Valley Jr. Warriors) played the final 50:58 between the pipes for the Hawks and recorded 25 saves.
Broderick put Cortland up 1-0 just 2:31 into the game with his fourth goal of the season, assisted by
Darren McCormick (Buffalo/Buffalo Jr. Sabres). Nolan netted a goal 8:50 into the period, assisted by
Sam Pinsler (Chicago, IL/Green Mountain Glades) and Crowley, and 12 seconds later Crowley lit the lamp for his second goal of the season off assists from Pinsler and Nolan.
After a scoreless second period, Becker closed its deficit to 3-1 when Morgan was set up by Christopher Pantaleo (Staten Island/New Jersey Jr. Titans) for a shorthanded breakaway goal 5:42 into the third. The tally was Morgan's fourth goal of the season. The Red Dragons gained some breathing room on McCann's third goal of the winter, assisted by
Sean Brown (East Amherst/Northern Cyclones) and
Michael Mascaro (Merrick/NY Apple Core), with 7:15 remaining, and Nolan finished the scoring with his fourth goal of the season, also assisted by Brown and Mascaro, with 2:42 left.
Cortland returns to action on Saturday when it hosts nationally 12th-ranked Nichols College at 3 p.m., while Becker will play Saturday at 4 p.m. at Morrisville State.
Cortland 5, Becker 1
Score by periods:
Becker 0-0-1 1
Cortland 3-0-2 5
Scoring Summary (Goals-Assists)
Becker: Brandon Morgan 1-0, Christopher Pantaleo 0-1
Saves: Tyler Stepke (Becker) 7 saves (3 GA in 9:02), Gregg Hussey (Becker) 34 saves (2 GA in 50:58);
Drew Weigman (Cortland) 34 saves (1 GA in 60:00)
Shots on Goal: Cortland 37 (16-6-15), Becker 35 (11-13-11)
Penalties: Cortland 6-12:00, Becker 5-10:00
Power Play: Cortland 0-5, Becker 0-5
Records after game: Cortland (Red Dragons) 5-6-3, Becker (Hawks) 5-8
