Cortland Wraps up the first weekend of the regular season going 3-1

This weekend the Red Dragons took the trip down to Williamsport Pa. The Red Dragons started the weekend off against a very well prepared Binghamton team. Their preparation showed as they scored 2 goals in the first two minutes against a very flat Cortland squad. However the Dragon’s talent and depth showed as they nudged out a 4-2 win. Leading the way for Cortland were Gilcrest and Stern each notching two goals.

The next game was one that everyone was dying to play, the famous Cortland vs. Oswego rivalry. This would add another chapter on the DII level. After the first period the Red Dragons were ahead 4-0 after a ferocious 3 goal outbreak by Stern and Hughes in the final 30 seconds of the period. The closet the Lakers got was 5-3 but two late third period goals by Croce and Fidotta sealed the deal for Cortland as they beat the Lakers 7-4.

Third up for the day on the Red Dragons Schedule was Niagara. With this being their first year in the league Cortland did not know what to expect. The game started out slow paced by two minutes into the game Cortland scored on a slap shot from Fidotta to take an early lead. Niagara tallied back to make it 1-1 but that is as close as it would ever be. Cortland rallied to win 11-2. In the third period Cortland scored 4 goals in 4 minutes including a beautiful wrap play set up by Cj Gilcrest. Leading the way for Cortland was Fidotta with 4 goals and 1 assist Gilcrest with 2 goals and 3 assists and Krupa with 1 goal and 3 assists. 

The last game of the weekend was one that the ECRHA said was a top candidate for game of the week featuring two 3-0 teams the Red Dragons and Slippery Rock. This was the Red Dragons toughest game of the weekend. The Red Dragons Jumped out to a 4-1 lead on goals from Fidotta, Stern, Krupa and Gilcrest. However the Red Dragons inexperience showed as they gave up 7 unanswered goals and lost the game 8-4.

Sidenotes:  Cj Gilcrest celebrated his 24^th birthday this weekend. Mitch Croce moved back to defense after Fidotta took a slap shot to the knee in the 1^st game. Cortland was without Bryan Feiler this weekend.