Davidson, Sports

Cyclones look to move up in league standings

DAVIDSON— The Cyclones beat LeRoy twice last week to improve their record to 8-8 as they make a bid to move up in league standings heading into playoffs.
The Cyclones were in LeRoy last Wednesday where they beat the Braves 6-4.
LeRoy got off to an early lead with a goal five minutes into the first frame. Davidson’s Pat Cey (Ben Wasmuth, Zach Sim) tied it up at 10:31. While on the powerplay, Garrett Dieno, from Kyle Bortis, scored to put the Cyclones ahead 2-1. Carter Smith (Bortis and Rhyse Dieno) scored to end the period with Davidson up 3-1.
The Cyclones came out scoring in the second period after Garrett Dieno (Bortis, Rhyse Dieno) found the back of the Braves’ net. Cey (Cody Danberg, Smith) scored his second goal of the game to give the Cyclones a 5-1 lead. The Braves came back scoring two goals before Derek Allan (Rhyse Dieno, Sim) scored Davidson’s sixth and final goal of the game on the powerplay to put Davidson up 6-3.
In the third period the Braves scored their fourth goal, shorthanded, to narrow the gap but it wasn’t enough and the Cyclones and their goalie Brady Willner got out of LeRoy with a 6-4 win.
This victory came after a Jan. 9 game against LeRoy in Watson with Davidson’s Kyle Bortis scoring the game winner in a shootout.
After scoring 4 goals in the first period for a 4-2 lead, the Cyclones were silent in the second period, allowing the Braves to take the lead. Davidson was down 8-4 heading to the midway point of the third period and the game seemed all but lost. Derek Allan scored his second goal of the game to revive the Cyclones and give them some hope. As the minutes wound down, Carter Smith (from Allan) scored to put Davidson within two. With seconds on the clock, goalie Mark Zoerb pulled and the extra attacker on the ice, Allan got his third goal of the game to put the Cyclones down by one. With 17 seconds remaining Smith, from Brett Ward, scored the tying goal to send it into overtime. A scoreless OT forced the shootout with Davidson’s Cey, Derek Allan, Smith and Bortis scoring for the win.
The Cyclones played league-leading Drake at home Friday and then travelled to Lanigan Saturday to take on the second-place Pirates. Davidson’s final league game is this Saturday in Watrous.