Oct. 20, 2007

Box Score

Aston, Pa. - Phil Roy started off his career with a victory over SUNY Geneseo, 5-4.  The Knights led the whole game but a late surge from Geneseo caused concern for the Knights and their fans.

Eight different Neumann Knights recorded points in tonights game.  All-American Neil Trimm (Pembroke Lumber Kings (CJHL)/Westmeath, ONT) led the way with three points while Mike Gooch (OCN Blizzard (MJHL)/Mantua, NJ), Mark Van Vliet (Quinnipiac/Dorchester, ONT), and Kyle Casey (Stratford Cullitions (MWOJHL)/Stratford, Ontario) added two apiece.  

Early on in the first period, both teams could not stay out the penalty box as there were six penalties in the first ten minutes of play.  Geneseo had a great chance to score in the opening minutes of play but Mike Collichio (Syracuse Stars (OPJHL)/Rochester, NY) made an excellent glove hand save.  The Knights started to settle in and on a power play opportunity set up man Mike Gooch found Neil Trimm  who slid the puck between the circles to Mike Hedden (Thorold Blackhawks (GHJHL)/St. Catherines, ONT), who scored his 50th goal as a Knights and gave the home team a 1-0 lead at the end of the first period.

The Knights got right back on the board in the second period when Kyle Casey found a streaking Neil Trimm who backhanded the puck into the back of the net doubling the Knights' lead.  Geneseo cut the lead in half when Kevin Galan scored on a power play goal, assisted by Daniel Sullivan and Casey Smith.  The Knights answered right back, less then three minutes later, on the power play led by Mike Gooch who made an excellent play to keep the puck in the zone, passing it back and forth to Mark Van Vliet (Quinnipiac/Dorchester, ONT) before finding Jesse Cole (Stratford Cullitions (MWOJHL)/Stratford, ONT) who gave the Knights a 3-1 lead.  Van Vliet then scored Neumann's fourth goal, a nifty backhander, with assists from Matt Ward (Brockville Braves (CJHL)/Kemptville, ONT) and Brock Van Slyke (Stratford Cullitons (MWOJHL)/Ingersol, ONT).

In the third period of play, Geneseo got their second goal of the game with five minutes left in the period. Trent Cassan scored for the visitors and Andrew Rygiel and Mathieu Cyr were credited with the assist. The Knights answered back less then two-minutes later as Neil Trimm struck again with an assist from Kyle Casey making it a 5-2 game.

Geneseo however, did not give up. The Ice Knights scored twice with less than two minutes left in the game forcing fans to the edge of their seats. Geneseo's goals were scored by Kevin Galan assisted by Sebastain Panetta and Daniel Sullivan and Mathieu Cyr with assists from Trent Cassan and Andrew Rygiel. Geneseo had a chance to tie it up in the final moments of play but Collichio and All-American Mike Gooch managed to block any further attempts. 

With the win the Knights improve to 1-0 on the season while Geneseo falls to 0-1. Neumann and Geneseo will return to action Saturday afternoon at 4:00 PM in the final game of the weekend series.