by Warren Kozireski
Zach CoughlinDefenseman Zach Coughlin scored a goal and added an assist – his 100th career point – while Brandon Henshaw and Nick Vanorden had five and four point efforts respectively, to lead Brockport to an 8-2 ice hockey win over visiting Batavia.
Brockport started slowly and Batavia took advantage, jumping out to a 1-0 lead two minutes into the contest before the Blue Devils scored four unanswered goals over the next two periods to take control.
Goaltender Justin Keene started the rally sending a long, head-man pass to break Henshaw in all alone for his 22nd goal of the season.
Four minutes later, Vanorden redirected a pass from Matt Roe on the power play to put Brockport in the lead.
In the second period Coughlin skated from his own end before putting a wrister through the goaltender’s pads for his 13th of the season.
The record-breaking 100th career point came next as Coughlin sent his shot off the backboards and deflecting in front where Vanorden knocked it in.
Batavia opened the third period with another goal to cut the lead to two before Brockport ran off four more over the final eight minutes to put the game out of reach.
Henshaw banged in a rebound from a Vanorden shot that hit the side of the net at 7:38. Roe tipped in a shot from the point off the stick of Danny Viscardi at 10:16 to make it 6-2.
Defenseman Josh Hettinger scored his first varsity goal with a shorthanded effort and, two minutes later, DJ Mitchell netted his first varsity tally to finish the scoring.
“It took us a little bit to get going and they’re a good team that works hard,” said Brockport head coach Greg Stahl. “We really did a good job playing as a team.”
Keene made 17 saves in net for his fifth win of the season.
Brockport stood two points behind second place Hilton and four away from Churchville-Chili in the tight Class B West division.
The Blue Devils, at 10-4-0, were ranked 15th in the New York State Division II January 14 rankings.
