BUFFALO, N.Y. – A second-period comeback by the Albertus Magnus College men's ice hockey team fell just short in its season-opening 3-2 loss to Buffalo State on Friday evening at the Buffalo State Bengals Classic. Both Dino Antoniadis (Saskatoon, Saskatchewan) and Tyler Ignazzitto (Bath, Ontario) scored in the second period for the Falcons, but a late goal by the Bengals in the frame and a scoreless third period sealed the win for the home team.
THE BASICS
FINAL: Buffalo State 3 | Albertus Magnus 2
RECORDS: Albertus Magnus (0-1-0) | Buffalo State (1-0-0)
BOX SCORE
HOW IT HAPPENED
Buffalo State scored the opening goal of the game 3:56 into the first period. The Bengals began the scoring possession by dumping the puck into their zone, where Anthony Morin took a shot that was saved by Albertus' Joseph Giacobbo (Deptford, N.J.). After laying out for the stop, Giacobbo could not get up and stop a slapshot from Tyler Vanuden that gave the home team a 1-0 advantage.
The Bengals added to their lead at the 17:42 mark, scoring on a power-play just before the first intermission. Andrew Logar gathered his own missed shot on the extra-man opportunity and snuck one by Giacobbo to give the home team a 2-0 advantage.
Albertus broke onto the scoreboard at the start of the second period, as Antoniadis cut the visitors' deficit to 2-1 just 45 seconds into the frame. After skating the puck into the offensive zone, Antoniadis brought it from behind the net and wrapped it into the bottom-left corner of the net for the score. Charles Risk (Medicine Hat, Alberta) earned an assist on the goal.
The Falcons tied the score at 2-all 5:03 into the second on a goal by Ignazzitto. Risk took a shot from just outside the faceoff circle when Ignazzitto tipped it by the opposing goalie. Alex Gagnon (Montreal, Quebec) joined Risk with an assist on the tally.
Buffalo State reclaimed the lead with 3:04 remaining in the second period on a goal by Logar, his second of the game. Skating into the zone, Logar and Nikita Kozyrev passed the puck back and forth in front of the crease before Logar wristed a shot into the back of the net.
The final three minutes of the period finished scoreless, as the Bengals took a 3-2 advantage into the third.
Both teams' defenses settled in during the third period, as the frame finished scoreless. The Falcons got off five shots in the third but could not find the tying goal on their way to a 3-2 season-opening setback.
Between the pipes for Albertus, junior transfer Giacobbo made 27 saves in his blue-and-white debut. Giacobbo was put to the test in the second and third periods, finishing with 11 and 12 saves, respectfully.
BETWEEN THE PIPES
Albertus: Joseph Giacobbo (L, 0-1-0): Shots on Goal 30 | Goals-Against 3 | Saves 27
Buffalo State: Emil Norrman (W, 1-0-0): Shots on Goal 29 | Goals-Against 2 | Saves 27
INSIDE THE NUMBERS
- The Bengals owned a 30-29 advantage in shots over the Falcons.
- Buffalo State scored the only power-play goal of the game in the first period.
- Albertus was whistled for four penalties for eight minutes in the box, while Buffalo State served 12 minutes on six penalties.
- Ignazzitto led Albertus with four shots in the contest.
NOTEWORTHY
- Today's game is the first all-time meeting between the two teams.
- With the win, the Bengals are 1-0-0 all-time against Albertus.
- Ignazzitto's goal is his first collegiate point.
- Risk tallied his third career multi-point game.
UP NEXT
The Falcons will be right back in action tomorrow afternoon, as they play Fredonia State on day two of the event. The opening puck drop of tomorrow's game is slated for 3:30 p.m.
