Box Score CORTLAND, N.Y. -- Stevenson men's hockey scored early in the third period before adding a key insurance marker as part of a 2-1 road victory against SUNY Cortland on Friday afternoon.
Stevenson (8-2-1) broke through early in the third period on a scramble before Ryan Patrick added his second goal of the night on an acrobatic tally, pushing the Mustangs to five-straight wins. Meanwhile, junior goalie Ryan Kenny was superb with a career-high 46 saves.
SUNY Cortland (5-3-1) eventually cashed in with just two seconds left in the tightly-contested matchup.
- Neither team could find the scoresheet in an evenly played opening period, with each side posting 11 shots.
- Kenny made an early save for the Mustangs before Anthony Starzi and Luke Benitez had chances turned aside by Corland goalie Owen Zdunski.
- Stevenson had to put its penalty kill to work after being whistled for too many men on the ice. The Mustangs had two power-play chances in the period as SUNY Cortland kept the visitors at bay.
- Alex Rivet and Brendan Rylott ripped chances near the latter part of the stanza as both sides went to the locker room tied.
- Benitez rifled a screened shot early in the frame into the pads of Zdunski.
- Benitez later charged in on the penalty kill for a close-range attempt off a centering pass as the Mustangs countered ahead around eight minutes into the period.
- SUNY Canton responded with a flurry of activity in the offensive zone a few minutes later as Kenny stood tall. The Red Dragons blistered several chances from the point just wide as the hosts maintained large chunks of possession in the offensive zone.
- Stevenson recorded four shots in a row, which included a pair of faceoff wins in the offensive zone. The Mustangs held a 26-22 edge in shots through 40 minutes in a close-checking contest.
- Just over 30 seconds into the period, the Mustangs cycled from behind the net to the point, later moving the puck to the slot where Patrick deflected a shot in front. The initial shot came from Malcolm Palmer from the right circle before the scramble in front pushed the Mustangs to a 1-0 lead.
- Eric Olson dove for an impressive shot block off a big blast from the point as the Stevenson penalty kill rose to the occasion once again. Kenny made a spawling save near the left post on a cross-ice feed to keep the Red Dragons off the board.
- A shot off the pads pinballed back to Patrick, who poked the puck in around a defender, doubling the Stevenson lead at 2-0. The chance came off a persistent forecheck for the Mustangs that hemmed SUNY Cortland in its defensive end.
- Stevenson had to rely on its penalty kill once again as the Red Dragons pulled the goalie for a 6-on-4 advantage. The Mustangs were up to the task once again as Kenny anchored another successful penalty kill.
- SUNY Cortland got on the board late on the power play with just two ticks left.
- Both goalies were sharp throughout the afternoon, with Kenny recording 46 saves. Kenny's 46 saves are tied for third all-time on the school's single-game record list, tying Jacob Caffrey's performance against Utica in 2017.
- Friday's contest marked the first of a four-game road stretch for the Mustangs. Stevenson will play just one more time in December before back-to-back road contests to open the new year.
- Stevenson killed off four of five SUNY Cortland power-play opportunities.
- Kenny's previous career-high in saves was 41, set back in February 2021 against Elmira.
- With two goals on Friday, Patrick vaulted to a tie for the team lead with six markers this season.
- Mac Lowry and Olson won 10 faceoffs each for Stevenson.
- Statistics were nearly identical for both sides following the first period, with 11 shots and 10 faceoff wins each.
- Stevenson stayed strong defensively despite SUNY Cortland pulling the goalie for the extra attacker for an extended period of time in the third period.
- Stevenson: The Mustangs return to conference play, visit Arcadia on Saturday, December 11 at 3:30 p.m.
- SUNY Cortland: The Red Dragons hit the road, facing off against Manhattanville on Saturday, December 4 at 7:00 p.m.