{"id":32467,"date":"2010-10-28T22:49:43","date_gmt":"2010-10-29T03:49:43","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.uscho.com\/?p=32467"},"modified":"2010-10-28T23:46:46","modified_gmt":"2010-10-29T04:46:46","slug":"expect-two-team-races-in-sunyac","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wwwproxy.uscho.com\/2010\/10\/28\/expect-two-team-races-in-sunyac\/","title":{"rendered":"Expect two team races in SUNYAC"},"content":{"rendered":"
Last season was a banner year for the SUNYAC, but one that fell slightly short.<\/p>\n
Two teams made the Division III national championship weekend in Lake Placid — Oswego and Plattsburgh.\u00a0 This is the first time this has happened since 1987, when those two teams faced each other in the championship game won by Plattsburgh (but later vacated by the NCAA Committee on infractions).<\/p>\n
However, both lost in the semifinals. First, Oswego fell to St. Norbert, 4-3, on a goal with 39 seconds left. Plattsburgh then dropped the nightcap to Norwich, 3-2.<\/p>\n
The SUNYAC also had the second highest out-of-conference record in the East with a .590 winning percentage.<\/p>\n
Individually, the season was topped off by Oswego’s senior Neil Musselwhite beating out all Division I challengers in the fastest skater competition at the NCAA Frozen Four Skills Challenge.<\/p>\n
With that success, inevitably some big stars have graduated, along with significant early departures, including Musselwhite, Eric Selleck (Oswego, signed early with the Florida Panthers), Todd Sheridan (Brockport), Connor Treacy (Potsdam), Gerald Heinz (Cortland), and Dan Brown (Geneseo) to name a few.<\/p>\n
The season also saw the resurgence of Fredonia, the coming-out of Morrisville, and a strong finish by Geneseo despite being banned from the playoffs.<\/p>\n
The new season looks like it could be a race of pairs. Plattsburgh and Oswego should fight it out for first place. Geneseo and Fredonia will do the same for third place. Morrisville and Brockport will duke it out for the fifth and sixth spots. Meanwhile, Potsdam, Buffalo State, and Cortland will be waiting in the wings for anyone to falter to grab a playoff spot in the top six.<\/p>\n
Click the team name for a full preview.<\/p>\n
Plattsburgh State Cardinals<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n Coach:<\/strong> Bob Emery, 22nd season overall and at Plattsburgh (465-146-48) Expect the Cardinals to take the SUNYAC title, holding off a stiff challenge from Oswego.<\/p>\n Oswego State Great Lakers<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n Coach:<\/strong> Ed Gosek, eighth season overall and at Oswego (140-42-14) Though they lost some key players, Oswego looks strong as ever.<\/p>\n Geneseo State Ice Knights<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n Coach:<\/strong> Chris Schultz, fifth season overall and at Geneseo (51-49-3) After a season on the outs due to NCAA sanctions, look for Geneseo back near the top.<\/p>\n Fredonia State Blue Devils<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n Coach:<\/strong> Jeff Meredith, 24th season overall and at Fredonia (330-247-60) Fredonia rebounded last year from a poor season, and should challenge for third this season.<\/p>\n Morrisville State Mustangs<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n Coach:<\/strong> Brian Grady, fourth season overall and at Morrisville (19-56-1) Morrisville will continue to surprise the top teams as they improve.<\/p>\n Brockport State Golden Eagles<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n Coach:<\/strong> Brian Dickinson, 17th season overall (119-253-37) and 14th season at Brockport (105-205-31) With the loss of its starting goalie, Brockport has a bigger challenge than most.<\/p>\n Potsdam State Bears<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n Coach:<\/strong> Chris Bernard, fifth season overall (26-66-6) and second season at Potsdam (9-14-2) After a strong start to the year, Potsdam had a dramatic second-half fall that leave the team with many questions.<\/p>\n
\n2009-10 overall record:<\/strong> 19-6-4
\n2009-10 SUNYAC record:<\/strong> 13-2-1
\n2009-10 SUNYAC finish:<\/strong> Second
\n2010-11 Predicted finish:<\/strong> First<\/p>\n
\n2009-10 overall record:<\/strong> 26-3-0
\n2009-10 SUNYAC record:<\/strong> 15-1-0
\n2009-10 SUNYAC finish:<\/strong> First
\n2010-11 Predicted finish:<\/strong> Second<\/p>\n
\n2009-10 overall record:<\/strong> 13-10-2
\n2009-10 SUNYAC record:<\/strong> 9-6-1
\n2009-10 SUNYAC finish:<\/strong> Fourth
\n2010-11 Predicted finish:<\/strong> Third<\/p>\n
\n2009-10 overall record:<\/strong> 17-7-2
\n2009-10 SUNYAC record:<\/strong> 9-5-2
\n2009-10 SUNYAC finish:<\/strong> Third
\n2010-11 Predicted finish:<\/strong> Fourth<\/p>\n
\n2009-10 overall record:<\/strong> 9-17-0
\n 2009-10 SUNYAC record:<\/strong> 5-11-0
\n2009-10 SUNYAC finish:<\/strong> Seventh
\n2010-11 Predicted finish:<\/strong> Fifth<\/p>\n
\n2009-10 overall record:<\/strong> 14-12-1
\n2009-10 SUNYAC record:<\/strong> 7-8-1
\n2009-10 SUNYAC finish:<\/strong> Fifth
\n2010-11 Predicted finish:<\/strong> Sixth<\/p>\n
\n2009-10 overall record:<\/strong> 9-14-2
\n 2009-10 SUNYAC record:<\/strong> 5-10-1
\n 2009-10 SUNYAC finish:<\/strong> Sixth
\n2010-11 Predicted finish:<\/strong> Seventh<\/p>\n