Fredonia stops No. 6 Neumann 3-2 in OT

FREDONIA, N.Y. -- Bryan Ross scored midway through overtime as Fredonia State upset No. 6 Neumann, 3-2, Saturday at the Steele Hall Ice Arena.

Ross caught an airborne puck chipped out from behind the net, dropped the puck, and fired over the top of the Neumann goaltender from the right circle.

It was his eighth goal of the season and his third point of the game. Mat Hehr and Mike Muhs picked up assists.

Fredonia State goaltender Mark Friesen made 37 saves, including two key stops during a Neumann 5-on-3 advantage during the second period.

The Blue Devils took 26 shots. Neumann goaltender Ross MacKinnon was credited with 23 saves.

Fredonia State improved to 7-6-3. Neumann fell to 12-4-0. They entered the game on an eight-game winning streak.

Both teams had power-play goals in the first period, and went scoreless in the second period.

The Blue Devils took a 1-0 lead on Stephen Castriota's sixth goal fo the season at 13:26 of the first period. Castriota scored off a rebound of a rising shot by Ross which deflected off MacKinnon. Jared Wynia was also credited with an assist.

The Knights drew even just under four minutes later when Marlon Gardner whistled a slapshot from the right circle into the upper left corner. Steve Gravais and Jordan Zalba picked up the assists.

The highlight of a the second period was Fredonia State killing off two consecutive penalties, including 1:06 being two men down. Friesen made a sprawling save, followed by a glove save to keep the Knights from taking the lead.

Each team scored in the third period.

Muhs put the Blue Devils back on top, 2-1, with a power-play goal at 4:59. Stationed near the crease to the left of MacKinnon, Muhs chipped in a crossing pass for his fourth goal of the season. Ross and Brian Doust assisted.

Neumann's Steve Gervais forged a 2-2 tie with a shot from the right circle which deflected off Friesen and into the net at the 14:04 mark. Gardner and Scott Farrell were credited with assists.

The Blue Devils nearly regained the lead on a shot by Muhs during a 3-on-2 rush with two minutes left. The puck clanged off the left post. Earlier in the period, Fredonia State's Ben Waldman hit a post.

The Blue Devils close out the rest of the regular season with the second round of eight games against SUNYAC opponents. The string starts when Brockport visits Steele Hall next Friday, followed by a Saturday night home game vs. Geneseo.