Twice in the span of a week, the Solvay ice hockey team would meet up against the front-runners in Division I West and get a good picture on just where it stood.
It started Saturday night, at Allyn Arena in Skaneateles, where the Bearcats, on its new home ice, met Corcoran, whose 6-0 start included a win in the Bobby Conklin Memorial Tournament at Baldwinsville, where Solvay had placed third and not met the Cougars.
Now, though, Solvay and Corcoran were on the same ice surface – and the Bearcats, after a rough start, roared to life in the second period and held on down the stretch to knock off the Cougars 4-3.
Any win appeared unlikely after Corcoran grabbed a 2-0 first-period edge. However, adjustments during the intermission worked to the Bearcats’ benefit, and it led to a second-period surge that included three unanswered goals.
From there, it would stay close, Solvay adding another goal in the final period that proved enough as Corcoran also managed a single tally. All told, it was an even flow of play as the two goalies – Ryan Bonk for the Bearcats, Liam Moore for the Cougars – each finished with 21 saves.
David Graf led the comeback as he scored twice, while Peter Lynch managed one goal and one assist. Austin Webb earned the other goal as Tyler O’Mara and Will Downs each got two assists. Ben Carrock also had an assist.
Five days before clashing with Corcoran, the Bearcats had hosted Liverpool and had, from start to finish, toyed with the Warriors in a 7-1 romp.
Other than allowing Alex Bittel’s first-period goal, Solvay’s defense was superb, breaking up most of Liverpool’s attack before the puck got to Bonk, who only had to make 17 saves.
Up 2-1 going into the second period, the Bearcats used three unanswered goals in that frame to pull away – something it would repeat, to great effect, later in the week.
Continuing his hot start, Graf earned a three-goal hat trick and contributed an assist, too. Downs picked up four assists. Carrock and Nate Carr both had goals, with Carrock adding two assists. Casey McHale, Travis Hyde, Forrest Gilbert and Cameron Bennett each had one assist.
Solvay followed the Corcoran win by going to Ithaca Tuesday before the next big contest, against four-time defending sectional champion West Genesee Friday night at Allyn Arena.
