Ice Knight’s successful road trip brings two decisive wins over Chatham University
Photo courtesy of Geneseoknights.com
Sophomore Luke Panchisin currently has 34 total career points, and had one goal and one assist against the Chatham University Cougars.
The Geneseo Ice Knights had a very successful road trip, during which they captured two decisive victories over their new conference rivals, Chatham University. The first game on Friday, Nov. 8, was all Ice Knights, as Geneseo won 5-1. The second game, which was held the next day, was more contested, but the Ice Knights came out victorious with a 6-3 win. Geneseo is now 3-0 in the new season and 2-0 in United Collegiate Hockey Conference (UCHC) play.
In the first period of the first game against Chatham, the Knights got going quickly with three goals. Senior defenseman Tommy Winn got his first goal of the season at 3:28. Only minutes later, senior forward Stefan Miklakos doubled Geneseo’s lead, springing a second goal for the team. Freshman forward Wiberg then capitalized on the power play for his first goal of the season to cap off an incredible first period for the Ice Knights.
The second period was less eventful than the first, with neither team scoring. The Ice Knights did generate high-danger scoring chances but could not get one past Chatham Cougar’s goaltender Cameron Kuntar. Geneseo’s netminder was equally impressive as senior goaltender Adam Harris made 11 saves in the period.
Chatham didn’t waste any time in the third period, scoring only seconds into the period to make it a 3-1 game. The Ice Knights didn’t entertain a comeback; they quickly responded with another from Stefan Miklakos. Geneseo would add an empty-net goal from senior forward Peter Morgan to close out a 5-1 victory.
On Saturday, their second game’s first period, they mimicked that of the day before, beginning with junior forward Alex Dameski scoring just one minute into the game. Chatham, though, would quickly answer back to make it 1-1. Sophomore defenseman Sterling Wolters would score in his second consecutive game to gain the lead right back for the Knights, and Geneseo would go into the second period up 2-1.
The Knights' momentum carried into the second period, as they shut down a 5-on-3 powerplay for the Cougars. Soon after, sophomore forward Carter Diceman scored on a wraparound move to make it 3-1. Geneseo’s defense was stout, as sophomore goaltender Jacob Torgner only had to make five saves in the period. The Knights maintained their 3-1 lead going into the third and final period of the game.
The Chatham Cougars came out in the third period, firing on all cylinders. They scored two goals in just 15 seconds to tie the game at three apiece. The Ice Knights’s resolve didn’t waver as they would regain the lead, thanks to senior defenseman Diarmad Dimurro. Senior forward Cooper Fensterstock would add an insurance goal to make it a 5-3 game, and sophomore forward Luke Panchisin would close it out with an empty net goal to clinch a two-game sweep over the Chatham Cougars.
The Knights' two wins over Chatham were a combination of a total team effort as they got contributions from their backline, forwards, and goaltenders. Some particular standouts were Adam Harris, making 34 saves to win the first game against Chatham and Jacob Torgner, making 20 saves to help Geneseo get their second win against the Cougars. The second game was an incredibly dominant effort from the Ice Knights as well, as they outshot Chatham 59-23. Geneseo will look to continue their torrid start to the season when they play host to Manhattanville University on Nov. 15 at 7:00 pm.