The Chatham University men’s ice hockey team started their regular season with 7-3 loss to the Fredonia Blue Devils in a game played in Fredonia, New York.
Fredonia started fast scoring two goals in the opening period. The first came off the stick of Luke Rivera just 2:37 into the period. The Blue Devils followed with a goal by Jacob Haynes with under nine minutes to play in the 1st, taking a 2-0 lead into the first intermission. Chatham’s freshman netminder, and McMurray native, Brian Baker stopped 13 of the 15 shots he faced in the period.
As the periods changed, the Cougars cracked the scoreboard as sophomore forward Daniel Cangelosi cut the Blue Devils lead in half with goal early in the 2nd period. However, the Blue Devils quickly regained their two goal lead 1:12 later when Ethan Kribis tickled the twine making it 3-1. Fredonia was not content as Jacob Haynes scored his second goal near the end of the second period, giving the Blue Devils a 4-1 lead after two periods.
The Cougars would claw back in the third putting two pucks behind Blue Devils goalie Eric Bogart in first nine minutes of the period. Sophomore forward Chris Lutz started the third period with a goal assisted by freshman Tristian Simm, his first collegiate point. Sophomore forward Chad Bell cut the lead to one with a goal assisted by Bethel Park native Jason Bauer, who also got his first point as a Cougar. The Cougars comeback would fall short as Fredonia would score three more goals, including an empty netter to win 7-3.
Game two, scheduled to be played at the Frozen pond arena on Saturday, was cancelled due to the tragic shooting at the Tree of Life Synagogue. Chatham will return to action Saturday, Nov. 3 at 3 p.m., when they will travel to Stevenson, Maryland to take on the Stevenson Mustangs who are 1-0 after a 4-3 win over Morrisville.
The Chatham women’s team played a full weekend of hockey in Blaine, Minn., but were unable to come away with a victory. The Cougars fell 5-1 on Friday to Saint Benedict Bennies and lost 3-2 in overtime on Saturday against Bethel University Royals.
It was a rocky start for the Cougars on Friday as rookie Katy Reed got her first career start but surrendered four goals on 20 shots in the first period. Saint Benedict got out to an early 2-0 lead on goals from Mollie Wise and Reegan Patnode. Chatham would answer 1:16 later as Senior Captain Kirajean Frost cut the lead in half just 1:16 later. However, Saint Benedict quickly regained their two goal lead 18 going ahead 3-1 lead after one period.
The second period started just like the first with Saint Benedict’s Annika Brodt making the score 4-1 and resulting in Junior Devon Strachan taking over the goaltending duties. Strachan made 24 saves over the final 38:25 of the game with her lone goal against coming with 1:06 remaining in the game as Saint Benedict garnered a 5-1 win.
The Cougars fared much better on Saturday as Devon Strachan made her first start of the year and was one of the Cougars top players during weekend. Like the day before, the Cougars found themselves down 2-0 midway through the second period as Bethel had tallies from Kennedi Mitchell, and Payton Olson. However, the Lady Cougars fought back to tie the game. Chatham’s first goal came with four minutes remaining in the second as sophomore defender Danielle Bos ripped one top shelf from the blue line past a screened Mallory Tidona. As the third period began, the Cougars got the equalizer as freshman forward Kerry Carr scored her first career goal. No further scoring occurred in regulation but that changed quickly as just 43 seconds into the overtime period Bethel’s Kaylyn Forliti ended the game giving Bethel a hard fought 3-2 win.
Devon Strachan made 48 saves on 51 shots in the game and 72 saves on 76 shots over the weekend. Junior goaltender Tara Riley said “it’s one of the best games we’ve played in two years.”
The Cougars will return home and look to get in the win column as they will take on Lebanon Valley Dutchman (1-1) in a two game set at the Frozen Pond Arena in Valencia with games on Friday at 7:10p.m. and Saturday at 4:50p.m. If you cannot be there, the games will be broadcast online with Alex Lyons calling the action. Go to https://gochathamcougars.com/watch/?Archive=126&type=Live
