Hockey Defeats Buffalo State to Move on in the Playoffs

Sophomore Connor Smith notched a three-point night, including a pair of goals, to help the Erie hockey team defeat Buffalo State University 7-2 in the first round of the Upstate New York Collegiate Hockey League (UNYCHL) D2 playoffs on Saturday.  The victory moves the Kats on to face cross town rival Niagara County Community College in the next round.

Smith has been the teams leading scorer all season.  He currently stands at 29 goals and 16 assists through the 24 games he has played.  

Goaltender Jayce Faso was in net for the Kats, turning away 27 of the 29 shots he faced to earn the win.

Freshman Ryan Matthews opened the scoring for Erie at 14:04 of the first period.  The next two goals belonged to Smith as the Kats built a 3-0 before the end of the first period.   They would add two in the second when the Mangone brothers, Connor and Christian, would each net one.  Charles Gerken would add the final two in the third to round out the scoring.  

Erie will travel to Hyde Park on Sunday, February 25th for an 8:00 pm contest with the Thunderwolves.  NCCC finished first the the division but Erie holds the season record, winning both regular season match-ups.