Local grads man each blueline
The College at Brockport spotted Morrisville a 2-0 lead less than five minutes into the contest, but scored five of the last six goals to complete a weekend sweep of the Mustangs with a 5-3 win.
Trailing 2-0, the Golden Eagles got on the board as senior Aidan Verbeke sent a perfect pass to the slot where Connor Hutchins one-timed it through the five-hole to cut the Mustangs lead in half.
With only 28 seconds remaining in the first period, Brockport tied the game with a power play goal as senior David Horan tipped in a feed from Dylan Shapiro with a second assist from senior defenseman Brian Hurlimann (Hilton).
The Golden Eagles opened the second period with another power play goal just 18 seconds in when Verbeke knocked in the rebound from his own shot and a pass from behind the net by Hutchins.
That lead was short-lived however as the Mustangs tied the game 3-3 at 2:43.
Brockport again capitalized in the final minute of a period with the man advantage as Hutchins netted his second goal of the game on a one-timer from the left faceoff circle after passes from Tim Kielich and Verbeke.
Verbeke finished the scoring with a shorthanded goal at 4:06 as a Brockport icing bounced off the back boards, by the goaltender and into the crease where he tipped it in for one of the easiest goals of his career.
The line of Hutchins-Verbeke-Zach Sikich accounted seven points combined as Brockport won their fifth conference game and 12th overall.
Hurlimann’s assist on the second Brockport goal marked the tenth of his career in his 72nd game. He has six career goals. “We have one more home game, so it’s (his final collegiate season) kind of bittersweet, but at the end of the day you’re here to have fun,” the senior said. “To finish out my senior year hard, it’s going to be great. It’s going to be fun playing out these last games.”
At the other end of the spectrum was Morrisville freshman defenseman and Spencerport product Aidan Conolly. The game marked his 23rd of the season—he has played in every game for the Mustangs—with two goals and seven assists and seeing regular time on the power play unit.
“It’s definitely more than I expected—I didn’t expect to come in and contribute right away,” Conolly said. “This is a good school to get that opportunity and it’s working out very well for me. I’m very lucky and blessed and taking the opportunity and running with it.”
“Morrisville called me probably two days before classes started and got me right in and enrolled in school, so it was a last minute decision but I’m glad it happened. I’m having so much fun here and this is where I want to be, so I’m going to stick with it.”
