Box Score
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| Conal Lynch has picked up a goal and an assist in the Jumbo's last two games |
Recap Courtesy of Castleton Sports Information
RUTLAND, Vt. – Brockport scored four goals in the final two periods of play to capture a 4-2 victory over Tufts in the opening round of the Rutland Herald Invitational. Chase Nieuwendyk scored two goals with one assist, and Chris Luker recorded one goal with two assists in the victory.
With the win, the Golden Eagles, who are now 3-5-1 overall, advance to the tournament's final game, whereas the Jumbos (1-4-1) will play in the consolation contest following the defeat.
After a scoreless first in which Tufts killed off a penalty and outshot Brockport 13-11, the second period contained five goals as the Golden Eagles grabbed a 3-2 lead.
Brockport struck first on a power play opportunity when Nieuwendyk found the back of the net at the 4:31 marker in the second stanza. The junior forward wristed a shot top shelf past the Jumbos goalie, Mason Pulde, to take a one-goal lead.
Less than a minute later, Tufts responded when Stewart Bell scored his second goal of the year. Blake Edwards fired a shot from the point that deflected off Bell and into the back of the net to even the game at 1-1, 5:25 into the middle frame.
At the 7:48 marker, Brockport regained the lead after Nieuwendyk notched his second goal of the day. Luker's pass found Nieuwendyk at the blue line, and the junior forward deked Pulde and netted the puck for his team-leading seventh goal of the season.
The Jumbos showed their resiliency by tying the game for a second time just past the halfway mark in the second. Sean Kavanagh's slapshot was saved by the Golden Eagles netminder, Aaron Green, but Conal Lynch was there to finish the rebound and make it 2-2.
With 5:52 remaining, Brockport scored its third goal in the period to grab a 3-2 lead. Chad Cummings fired a shot from the point that bounced off a Tufts defender and into the back of the net, giving the Golden Eagles a one-goal advantage heading into the final period of play.
In the third, Luker tacked on a fourth Golden Eagles goal at the 11:16 marker as Brockport claimed a 4-2 victory.
In net, Green, who moved to 2-2 overall, picked up the win with 31 saves, while Pulde dropped to 1-3-1 overall after stopping 29 shots in the losing effort.
The Golden Eagles will face the winner of the Castleton vs. Manhattanville contest tomorrow at 7 pm in the championship game. Prior to that, Tufts will play the loser of the Spartans vs. Valiants in the consolation game.
