Having won three times in as many days from Dec. 5 to 7, the CBA/Jamesville-DeWitt ice hockey team did not get much of a chance to savor that feat.
Instead, the Brothers found itself meeting Rome Free Academy for a fourth game in six days Tuesday at Kennedy Arena, and lost 4-2 to the Black Knights.
This was a close contest most of the way. Trailing 1-0 after one period, CBA/J-D caught up as Kodi Dotterer and Brackton Bowler each got goals, with Lessor Simon assisting on both goals and Tanner Burns also getting an assist.
RFA broke out of the 2-2 tie, though, scoring twice in the final period. Jake Hall (two goals) and Kyle Lubey (three assists) paced the Black Knights as goalie Isaiah Nebush stopped 28 of the Brothers’ 30 shots.
Fayetteville-Manlius had its own big test Tuesday, venturing to Shove Park to face West Genesee, the team that knocked the Hornets out in last February’s sectional Division I semifinals. Here, F-M got a lot closer to upending the powerhouse Wildcats, but took a 2-1 defeat.
When Will Duncanson scored in the first period, the Hornets took a 1-0 lead, but from there WG’s defense shut F-M down, rarely surrendering sustained pressure as goaltender David Myers finished with 17 saves.
Helped by Jake Johnston, who recorded 21 saves, the Hornets blanked the Wildcats until James Schneid, off a feed from Billy Fisher, scored midway through the second period.
They stayed 1-1 deep into the third period, too, but with 2:07 to play in regulation Fisher, getting a pass from James Schneid, put it past Johnston for the game-winner.
F-M plays Mohawk Valley next Tuesday and goes east to face Saratoga Springs and Shenendehowa on Dec. 20 and 21 as CBA/J-D plays Cazenovia next Tuesday at the Morrisville State IcePlex and travels to Clinton on Dec. 20.
