Pool A
Farmingdale State College Rams vs Lynn Fighting Knights
The Rams charged through upset-minded Lynn University to improve to 2-0-0 in pool play. Farmingdale State had to survive a tremendous performance from Fighting Knights goaltender Brody Dickson to earn two points in Pool A.
Donald Pace’s two goals in the second period are all FSC needed to scoot past Lynn, with goaltender Luke Richardson making 41 saves in the win.
The Fighting Knights put up a better fight than in their first game when they were slaughtered by rival Florida Atlantic 11-1. Lynn will close its season against Wake Forest tomorrow.
Farmingdale State 3
Lynn 1
Final
Florida Atlantic Owls vs Wake Forest Demon Deacons
David Israel’s dominance continued on Day 2 of the AAU Nationals. The big man had four points in Florida Atlantic’s first game against Lynn and followed that up with two more against Wake Forest.
Israel’s two-point second period helped distance the Owls from Wake Forest and keep Florida Atlantic undefeated through two days of pool play. Brady Baehser had his second straight three-point performance for FAU, who received a shutout from stud goalie Rocco Bruno.
The Owl’s win sets up a win-and-in game between Florida Atlantic and Farmingdale State tomorrow at 8:15 P.M.
Florida Atlantic 5
Wake Forest 0
Final
Danny Baum, AAU Hockey Head Editor
Pool B
SUNY-Brockport Clubbers vs FAU Owls
The Florida Atlantic Owls (D3) and the SUNY-Brockport Clubbers took to the ice as they got the action started for Pool B. FAU is looking to keep its chances of advancing alive after losing last night. Meanwhile, SUNY-Brockport tries to separate itself from the rest of the pool, looking to improve to 2-0.
FAU opened the scoring as Aaron Lentz took advantage of a two-on-one opportunity, receiving a pass from Sam Carozzo in the slot to score the opening goal. But the intense pressure from the Clubbers helped find the equalizer 28 seconds later, as Zack Geitner found a rebound for a goal. Both teams had power play opportunities in the first, but neither could capitalize. With three minutes left in the period, a two-on-one chance for Brockport found the back of the net with Ryan Plouffe taking the shot, beating Seth Fisher and giving them a 2-1 lead. The scoring didn’t stop there for the Clubbers as Trey Eberhart fired a shot over Fisher’s shoulder, resulting in a goalie change for the Owls.
FAU had an early powerplay opportunity, but Brockport found a two-on-zero chance; luckily for the Owls, Matthew McMillin continued his strong play, making a big save. The Clubbers took advantage of a costly turnover, setting up a one-on-one for Tyler Eberhart off a pass from Jeremiah Rausch, beating McMIllin with the backhand, with four unanswered goals for the Clubbers. Brockport continued to pour it on as Zack Getiner found the back of the net, turning a penalty kill into a power kill. Zack Geitner found the net again, securing the hat trick, this time on the powerplay, on the tip of a Trey Eberhart shot.
The Owls, looking to put the second period behind them, found the opening goal in the final period as Conner Moriarty snuck one past Rory Fitzpatrick. Brockport continued to up their goal differential in the tournament as Ryan Plouffe found his second goal, giving the Clubbers an 8-2 lead. And it didn’t take long for Brockport to light the lamp again, with Parker Cerkiewicz getting the puck past Seth Fisher, who checked back in between the pipes for the Owls. The Clubbers never let off the gas as Jonathan Bunk put them into double digits with eight left to play. Michael Richardson II became the seventh goal scorer of the game, scoring the eleventh goal, before Cole Newman scored his second of the period. Kicking the Owls while they were down, Parker Cerkiewicz found his second goal, scoring the final goal, and the Clubbers won 13-2.
Florida Atlantic will take to the ice for the final time tomorrow as they take on Massachusetts Maritime Academy at 11:15 a.m. SUNY—Brockport will battle Bishop’s University in a high-stakes late-night matchup, with both teams taking the ice at 8 p.m.
SUNY-Brockport 13
FAU Owls 2
Final
Bishop’s University Gaiters vs Mass. Maritime Academy Buccaneers
In one of the final games of day two, the Bishop’s University Gaiters took on the Massachusetts Maritime Academy Buccaneers in a battle with significant implications.
The Gaiters would open the scoring as they continued to put on a passing clinic, as Nico Deichmann found Frédéric Grenon, who had a wide-open net. Bishop’s University took no time as they applied the pressure, building a 2-0 lead after Jack McGowan fired a shot from the blue line that snuck past a screened Liam Polles.
Frederic Nicolas picked right where the Gaiters left off, taking advantage of a rebound off the end boards to increase the lead to three. Luckily for the Buccaneers, the end boards were handing out assists, as James Driscoll found the puck to beat Jack MacFarland for his first goal of the tournament. The Gaiters closed the period similarly, maintaining a two-goal lead into the final period.
Bishop’s University lit the lamp to start the period for the third time as William Cote took advantage of a three-on-one, beating Liam Polles five-hole. A minute and fourteen seconds later, Frédéric Grenon scored off a rebound of Alex Budd’s shot, giving the Gaiters a 5-1 lead. Passing continued to help keep the goals coming for the Gaiters as Frédéric Grenon found Ryan Gudernatsch backdoor as they looked to up their goal differential late in the game. The Frederics were leading the way for the Gaiters in today’s game as Frederic Nicolas found a late goal in the blowout victor, making the final score 7-1.
Bishop’s University will have its toughest pool play matchup tomorrow as it takes on SUNY-Brockport, which has beaten both of the Gaiters’ previous opponents. The MMA Buccaneers will take on the FAU Owls, with both teams looking to secure their first of the tournament in their final games.
Bishop’s University 7
Mass. Maritime Academy 1
Final
Gavin Coker, AAU Hockey Beat Writer
Pool C
Penn State Harrisburg Nittany Lions vs Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets
The No. 18 Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets upset the No. 8 Penn State Harrisburg Nittany Lions, 3-2, to secure their first pool-play win.
Georgia Tech’s Pranay Prasanna gave the Yellow Jackets a 2-0 lead with one goal in each of the first two periods: the first with 55 seconds remaining in the opening frame and the other with 2:08 left in the second. Penn State Harrisburg’s Colin Myers got the Nittany Lions on the board early in the third, but Keegan Goodell promptly reinstated Georgia Tech’s two-goal lead with 7:14 left to play.
Despite adding a shorthanded goal with 1:30 on the clock — courtesy of Carter Cherok — Penn State Harrisburg failed to overcome the deficit.
The Nittany Lions face off with the High Point Panthers at 5:15 p.m. tomorrow with a chance to win the pool, while Georgia Tech will look to move one step closer to advancing out of pool play with a win over the Miami Hurricanes at 11 a.m.
Penn State Harrisburg 3
Georgia Tech 2
Final
High Point Panthers vs Miami Hurricanes
Courtesy of a six-goal third period, the High Point Panthers defeated the Miami Hurricanes, 6-1, to remain undefeated in pool play. Jack Vieira stoned 32 of 33 shots from the Hurricanes for the win, while Macrae Hoffman blocked 25 of 31 from the Panthers.
Neither team found the back of the net in the opening frame, but the Hurricanes took a 1-0 lead with 4:27 left in the second with a goal from Sam Stone. Alas, it would be Miami’s only goal of the contest.
In what was ultimately a six-goal period for the Panthers, Dakota Johnson tallied High Point’s first goal less than two minutes into the third. A minute and a half later, Nick Sasso capitalized on a power play, followed by another power-play goal from Jack Hutchins just 56 seconds later. Sasso added his second of the night at 6:43, followed by Joe Di Martino at 7:27 and Jack Slayton, with another power-play goal, at 9:26.
Tomorrow, High Point can win Pool A with a victory over the Penn State Harrisburg Nittany Lions at 5:15 p.m., while Miami will look to bounce back with a win over the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets at 11 a.m.
High Point 6
Miami 1
Final
Kelly Kaelblein, AAU Hockey Beat Writer
Pool D
Middle Tennessee State Blue Raiders vs Embry-Riddle Ice Eagles
The Middle Tennessee State University Blue Raiders took on a College Hockey South Rival as Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University Ice Eagles looked to upset the CHS D2 champs on Day Two of the tournament.
The Blue Raiders scored an early goal, taking advantage of Embry Riddle’s poor discipline. Brendan Ogle received an excellent touch pass from Linden Palmer, and they scored on the power play. Middle Tennessee controlled the first period, and Ethan Demumbrum and Zachary Giblin both found the back of the net. The Blue Raiders went into the first intermission up 3-0.
The second period was tight defensively, with neither team giving up much in the offensive zone. Eventually, the Ice Eagles broke through, as Ray Olson beat Ethan Roy to get Embry-Riddle back in the game late in the second period.
The third period was a battle as the Ice Eagles looked to close the gap. Jayden Yawkey helped to do just that, scoring on a slapshot from the point to bring Embry-Riddle within one. Unfortunately, the stars came up big for the Blue Raiders as Matthew Siciliano scored a minute and four seconds later to increase the lead back to two. After the goal, Middle Tennessee shut out the Ice Eagles to improve to 2-0 in the tournament.
The Blue Raiders will face the Anna Maria College Amcats in a win-and-in match tomorrow to decide the winner of Pool D. Meanwhile, the Embry-Riddle Ice Eagles will face the Kutztown University Golden Bears as both teams look to leave Jacksonville with a win.
Middle Tennessee State 4
Embry-Riddle 2
Final
Gavin Coker, AAU Hockey Beat Writer
Anna Maria College Amcats vs Kutztown Golden Bears
The Amcats cruised to a 9-1 victory over the Golden Bears in another thrilling matchup. From the puck drop, the Amcats showcased their offensive prowess and relentless pressure, controlling the pace of the game. The Golden Bears struggled to contain the Amcats’ high-powered offense, which fired on all cylinders.
By the end of the game, the Amcats had pounced on nearly every opportunity, securing an impressive 9-1 win. The victory marked their second consecutive win of the tournament, and more notably, the Amcats have now limited their opponents to just one goal in two games—a testament to their defensive discipline and strong goaltending.
Day 3 promises to bring more intense action and intensifying moments as the D2 Hockey Nationals championship tournament race continues to unfold.
Anna Maria College 9
Kutztown 1
Final
Jyesha Nance, AAU Hockey Beat Writer
Pool E
South Florida Bulls vs Niagara Purple Eagles
The South Florida Bulls defeated the Niagara Purple Eagles, 5-2, to remain undefeated in pool play.
College Hockey South’s Division 2 MVP, Grant Dietz, opened the scoring halfway through the first to put South Florida on the board. While on the power play shortly after, Aaron Cholewa extended the Bulls’ lead heading into the middle frame.
South Florida’s Jacob Duhaime and Mario Cavallaro doubled the Bulls’ lead to open the second: Duhaime added a power-play goal just 27 seconds into the period, followed by Cavallaro’s tally at 12:05. 55 seconds after South Florida took a 4-0 lead, Matthew Riddle got the Purple Eagles on the board.
Niagara’s Owen Kiesman added another goal halfway through the third to cut the Bulls’ lead to 4-2. However, Duhaime collected his second goal of the night — shorthanded — to punctuate South Florida’s 5-2 win.
Niagara will look to bounce back against the Paul Smith’s College Bobcats at 8:15 a.m. tomorrow.
South Florida 5
Niagara 2
Final
Tampa Spartans vs Paul Smith’s College Bobcats
The Tampa Spartans dominated the Paul Smith’s Bobcats, 7-3. With the win, the Spartans remain undefeated in pool play as they look to follow in their Division 1 counterpart’s footsteps.
Tampa’s JP Sferra opened the scoring with a power-play goal less than four minutes into the contest. Ten minutes later, Casey Raffone doubled the Spartans’ lead. However, the Bobcats responded before the period’s conclusion, courtesy of Julien Shafer, to cut their deficit in half entering the second.
Paul Smith’s Collin Trapiss tied the game at 2-2 early in the second. Though Tampa reclaimed its lead less than two minutes later as Brenden Sickles found the back of the net, the Bobcats’ Tristan Côté netted Paul Smith’s second — and final — equalizer with 9:12 on the clock.
Unfortunately for the Bobcats, Sferra tallied his second of the night three minutes later to put the Spartans back on top, quickly followed by an insurance goal from Finn McDonough to close the middle frame.
Leading 5-3, Tampa’s Nicholas Zehelein, with help from Trace Cowart, added a power-play goal just under halfway through the third. Alan Weitzman punctuated the Spartans’ victory with an empty-netter just 3:12 shy of the final buzzer.
Paul Smith’s will close its pool play slate with a matchup against the Niagara Purple Eagles at 8:15 a.m. on Friday, while Tampa and South Florida will battle at 2:15 p.m. to close the first round undefeated.
Tampa 7
Paul Smith’s College 3
Final
Kelly Kaelblein, AAU Hockey Beat Writer
