CORTLAND, N.Y. - Sophomore Darren McCormick (Buffalo/Buffalo Jr. Sabres) scored a power-play goal with seven minutes remaining in the third period as the Cortland men's hockey team defeated 12th-ranked Nichols College, 4-3, Saturday afternoon in non-conference action at Alumni Arena. The Red Dragons evened their record at 6-6-3, while the Bison fell to 10-4.

McCormick also added an assist for Cortland. Junior Casie Garrison (Cortland/Philadelphia Revolution) and sophomores Andrew McCann (Bowmanville, ON/Wellington Dukes) and Dan Broderick (White Plains/New York PAL Islanders) each netted a goal. Seniors Mike Davie (Brooklyn/NY Apple Core) and Ryan Wagner (Buffalo/Aberdeen Wings) registered two assists and senior Sam Pinsler (Chicago, IL/Green Mountain Glades) recorded one assist. Sophomore goalie Drew Weigman (Gaithersburg, MD/Northern Cyclones) made 30 saves.

Senior Frank Butler (East Haven, CT/Hartford Jr. Wolfpack) tallied two goals for Nichols. Sophomore Brien Thompson (Dallas, TX/Dallas Eels) recorded a goal and an assist, senior Tyler Beasley (Indianapolis, IN/Rochester Ice Hawks) contributed two assists and senior Paul Prescott (Oakdale, MN/Aberdeen Wings) and freshman Ian Spencer (Hawthorne, NJ/Johnstown Tomahawks) each chipped in with one assist. Senior goalie Alex Larson (Madison, AL/Cleveland Lumberjacks) turned aside 23 shots.

The Bison took a 2-0 lead after the opening period on Butler's deflection in front at 3:02 on the power play and Thompson's slap shot from the left circle at 8:18. Cortland tied the game at 2-2 with a pair or early second-period goals. Garrison scored from the right circle just 12 seconds into the period and Broderick deflected a pass from Pinsler past Larson on the power play at 4:30.

Nichols regained the lead on Butler's second goal on a deflection at 11:16 of the second period, but McCann sent the game to the third period tied at 3-3 when he scored on a wrist shot from the right circle after collecting a pass from Davie off the right boards.

McCormick netted the game winner at 13:00 of the final period, deflecting in a slap shot by Wagner for his team-high eighth goal of the season. Nichols pulled Larson for an extra skater with 1:43 remaining but could not net the equalizer and Cortland held on for the 4-3 victory.

Cortland 4, Nichols 3

Score by periods:

Nichols              2-1-0          3
Cortland            0-3-1          4

Scoring Summary (Goals-Assists)

Nichols: Frank Butler 2-0, Brien Thompson 1-1, Tyler Beasley 0-2, Paul Prescott 0-1, Ian Spencer 0-1
Cortland: Darren McCormick 1-1, Dan Broderick 1-0, Andrew McCann 1-0, Casie Garrison 1-0, Mike Davie 0-2, Ryan Wagner 0-2, Sam Pinsler 0-1


Saves: Alex Larson (Nichols) 23 saves (4 GA in 58:17), Empty Net 1:43; Drew Weigman (Cortland) 30 saves (3 GA in 60:00)
Shots on Goal: Nichols 33 (10-6-17), Cortland 27 (9-9-9)
Penalties: Nichols 8-38:00, Cortland 5-21:00
Power Play: Cortland 2-3, Nichols 1-2
Records after game: Cortland (Red Dragons) 6-6-3, Nichols (Bison) 10-4 (ranked 12th in Div. III USCHO poll)