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BROCKPORT, N.Y. – Junior Scott Andler secured Nazareth's non-conference hockey victory over host Brockport on Friday evening after he scored an empty-net goal with two seconds remaining in regulation. Andler's goal, which lifted Nazareth to the 5-3 advantage, followed a pair of saves from junior goalie Ed Zdolshek before sophomore Ben Blasko cleared the puck off the boards to Andler.

With the victory, the Golden Flyers improve to 6-6-3 overall. With the loss, the Golden Eagles fall to 8-6-1 overall. Brockport entered Friday's game with a six-game winning streak, which was tied with ninth-ranked Trinity for the longest in Division III. Friday's game also marked the first time since November 22nd that the Golden Eagles had allowed more than three goals. The Golden Flyers defeated the Golden Eagles 7-1 at the Bill Gray's Iceplex to open the season.

In addition to the saves by Zdolshek in the closing seconds, the Golden Flyers thwarted the Golden Eagles' additional attempts in the final minutes. Brockport thought they scored the equalizer with 57 seconds remaining when Chase Nieuwendyk's shot rolled over junior goalie Ed Zdolshek's shoulder, however, play was stopped moments earlier when the net was knocked off its moorings. During the final minutes, the Golden Eagles also added several shots high and wide of the Golden Flyers' net as they played with an empty net. A Nazareth penalty for too many men on the ice gave Brockport a six-on-four advantage for the final 25 seconds.

The Golden Flyers found the back of the net twice in the first period to claim a one-goal advantage after the first stanza. After surrendering an early goal, sophomore Justin LaCorte and senior Julius Tamasy teamed to score the equalizer while the Golden Flyers were shorthanded. LaCorte had attacked the Brockport goal then stayed near the Golden Eagles' net as the puck was cleared toward the blue line. Tamasy kept the puck in the zone and fired a pass to LaCorte, who found the back of the Brockport goal from the right post to put Nazareth on the board 9:26 into the period. It was LaCorte's fourth tally of the season.

Roughly three minutes after LaCorte's goal, junior Don Olivieri gave the Golden Flyers their first lead of the game. The goal came just after a Nazareth power play had ended. Olivieri's goal, his fifth of the season, was assisted by Tamasy and junior Tom Seravalli.

The second period featured a pair of goals from both teams to leave Nazareth with a one-goal lead going into the third. The Golden Flyers faced adversity to begin the stanza. In the opening 6:28, Nazareth allowed a goal and sophomore David Seward was whistled for a five-minute major for contact to the head. Only 11 seconds into the man advantage chance, the Golden Eagles were whistled for interference. Playing four-on-four, junior Scott Dawson reclaimed Nazareth's lead after a give-and-go with Tamasy. After passing the puck, Dawson cut through the defenders and controlled the return pass. Dawson's initial shot was saved by goalie Jared Lockhurst's left foot, but he refused to be denied and pushed the puck over the goal line.

With 4:53 left in the second, the Golden Flyers took a 4-3 lead. Similar to Dawson's goal, Nazareth's chance was set up by a player cutting through the Brockport defense. Sophomore C.J. Murray converted the scoring chance when Olivieri sent a pass from near the left point toward the Brockport net. The pass left Murray alone in front of Lockhurst. Sophomore Ben Blasko also earned an assist on Murray's second goal of the season.

In the first period, the Golden Eagles opened the scoring only 83 seconds into Friday's contest after Andrew Parks slapped the rebound from Bobby Cayka's initial shot into the right side of the Nazareth's net. The right side of the goal was open after Golden Flyers' junior goalie Ed Zdolshek had to slide to the left side of the net to save Cayka's attempt. The scoring opportunity arose when Brockport attacked in transition.

Similar to the first period, Brockport scored in the opening minutes of the second when Dylan Shapiro found the back of the Golden Flyers' net 3:28 into the stanza. The goal was set up by a shot from the point from Jesse Facchini. Facchini's shot was wide of the right post, but it forced Zdolshek to lunge out of position. Shapiro collected the rebound at the back boards and converted a wrap-around attempt at the near post. Nine minutes later, Jeremy DeFazio converted a one-timer into the top of the Nazareth net. He received a pass from James Ryan, and Facchini was also credited with an assist. DeFazio scored with only nine seconds remaining in the Nazareth penalty. Brockport entered the game converting over 28 percent of their man-up chances, which ranked ninth in the nation. The Golden Eagles' goals temporarily tied the contest 2-2 and 3-3, respectively.

In addition to the eight total goals, both teams had a plethora of additional scoring opportunities. In the first period, Brockport had a goal waved off when Shapiro was whistled for interference. On the ensuing Nazareth power play, the Golden Eagles' Zac Sikich rang a shot off the crossbar as Brockport had a two-on-one chance. The Golden Flyers, meanwhile, had one-timers by junior Rocky Gruttadauria and freshman Oliver Janzen stopped. In the second, Zdolshek made a pair of saves on an odd-man rush with the teams playing four-on-four. During the third, Nazareth had several chances at the beginning of a five-minute power play after Shapiro was whistled for a blind-side hit. The penalty came with 13:50 to play in regulation. With just less than five minutes left, Gruttadauria was called for hooking. Brockport's power play pressured the Nazareth defense, but were unable to find the equalizer.

The Golden Flyers finished with a 31-21 advantage in shots on goal while Brockport won 50 of 83 faceoffs. Blasko and Tamasy each won 10 draws to lead Nazareth. Zdolshek made 18 stops to earn the win. Lockhurst finished with 26 saves.

The Golden Flyers travel to Geneseo for another non-conference contest on January 20th before resuming their ECAC West schedule. Nazareth hosts a pair of conference games against Hobart on January 23th and 24th and Elmira on January 30th and 31st.