Cortland Shows Power in Pre-Season

The Cortland Red Dragons had their annual Pre-Season Columbus Day Event over the weekend in Feasterville, PA. A strong Cortland squad was without three key players, Brendan Joyce (illness), Mike Weber (injury), and Jason Sartorius (personal). Never-the-less, the Red Dragons made their powerful team known for the upcoming season.

The Ramapo Roadrunners were the first test of the day for Cortland. The first line of Max Stern and Adam Gould wasted no time as Stern scored less than a minute into the contest. Not to be outdone by the first line, the pairing of CJ Gilcrist and Tommy Farr scored two goals on their first shift, both by Farr, assisted by Gilcrist. The third line of freshmen Tom Hughes and Chris Fidotta, found the back of the net. The score was 5-0 in favor of Cortland, just four minutes into the game. Cortland carried momentum throughout the game winning the Pre-Season opener 13-0. Goalie Lou Vetri recored his second shutout of his career.

The second game of the day came four hours later against last year's runner up, Oswego Lakers. Oswego scored on a power play in the first period. That would be the only goal let up by Cortland in the contest. Adam Gould struck back seven minutes later to even the score at one. Cortland owned the second period, outshooting Oswego 10-6 and notching a goal by CJ Gilcrist. The third period was the deciding factor. The freshmen tandem of Hughes and Fidotta each scored goals. Fidotta scored on a 4 on 2 penalty kill to put the dagger into the hearts of the Lakers. Another outstanding game by netminder Lou Vetri, allowing only one goal on 19 shots.

The third and final game of the weekend placed Cortland against the Loyola Greyhounds. A lazy first period by the Red Dragons saw them score only 3 goals (Barbariantz, Gilcrist, Stern) and giving up one. A stronger second period saw 4 goals by Cortland and string play along the boards and in the defensive zone. The third period was the icing on the cake was the Red Dragons scored three more goals.

After a 3-0 Pre-Season weekend, the first in Cortland State history, Cortland has made themselves known to the league that they are the team to beat. Allowing only two goals in three games is the best mark over a weekend Cortland has ever had. The rookies shined in the weekend event, the veterans clicked the way they have been over the past three seasons.

The first regular season event will be held in Glastonbury, CT on October 22. The Red Dragons will play the Syracuse Orange at 7 A.M and the Oswego Lakers at 4 P.M, the feature game of the weekend. Cortland will look to carry momentum into the first event of the season.