Highs and lows: Canisius splits series with LIU
By: Cecil Milligan, Sports Reporter
Canisius had a rather turbulent weekend, with back–to–back games against Long Island University (LIU) in East Meadow, N.Y.
The series opener was a nail biting back–and–forth affair. Canisius notched the first goal of the game when forward Carter Anderson lifted a loose puck up into the net while LIU’s goalie was screened. It didn’t take long for the LIU Sharks to respond, as just over three minutes after Anderson’s goal, Sharks forward Sixten Jennersjö scored off of a rebound. Canisius took the lead back with a goal from Carter Patterson, but once again, the Sharks had an answer, tying the game at 2–2.
LIU made a change to their goaltending in the third, taking Daniel Duris, who had made 17 saves on 19 shots, out of the game for Lukas Renaud. This change proved to be futile when Jason Gallucci fired a shot above the glove of Renaud to give the Griffs a 3–2 lead. Combined with a flawless 10–save third period from Jack Lisson, the Griffs held on for the win.
Unfortunately, the post–win high did not last long. Saturday’s game quickly got off on the wrong foot for the Golden Griffins. LIU managed to score two goals in the first three minutes of the game.
Sharks defenseman Trent Powell began the scoring when he slipped a shot past Griffs’ goaltender Kolby Hay. The Sharks doubled their lead less than a minute later when Garrett Valk fired a shot through traffic that hit the back of the net. This marked two goals on two shots, and Canisius decided to make the change, pulling goaltender Kolby Hay to put in Lisson.
Canisius didn’t create any momentum shifts until the second period, when Rhys Chiddenton notched the first goal for the Blue and Gold when he shot a wrister under the glove of Renaud. Their hope was dampened after Jaden Dyke beat Lisson on the blocker side to give LIU the two–goal lead once again. Canisius rallied back to cut LIU’s lead to one when L–P Fontaine fed the puck to Walter Zacher from behind the net, who put Canisius’ second goal on the board.
The Griffs entered the third with one thing in mind: score another goal. They were committed, recording 13 shots on net, but ultimately none of them made it past Renaud. LIU would secure the 3–2 win and split the series one apiece, handing Canisius its first loss of the season.
“We had some shifts, but weren’t able to build any momentum. I thought we should put a little more push earlier rather than pulling the goalie; a couple of chances late, a couple of good blocks by them. So just not enough plays being made, not enough execution and not enough toughness to make sure every single play mattered,” said Canisius Head Coach Trevor Large when asked about the team’s play, specifically during the third period.
The Blue and Gold hope to regain their footing with two consecutive games against in–state foe Clarkson University in Potsdam, N.Y with puck drop set for Friday, Oct. 16, at 7 p.m.
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