GENESEO, N.Y. - The SUNY Geneseo men's ice hockey team faces Curry College in the first round of the NCAA Division III Tournament, Saturday night at Ira S. Wilson Ice Arena in Geneseo, N.Y. This year marks Geneseo's tenth NCAA Division III Tournament appearance in program history.

The Knights fought for their spot in the tournament after finishing the regular season at an impressive 21-5 overall record, and 14-2 in SUNYAC play. Geneseo was able to earn an at-large bid to the tournament after losing to Cortland, 3-2, in the State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) Tournament semifinal game (Feb. 24). Curry (20-5-1, 15-3) also fell in the semifinal round of the Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) Tournament to Salve Regina, 7-2. 

Saturday's winner will advance to the NCAA Division III quarterfinal round to face Hobart on the road on March 16. For more information regarding tickets to Saturday's game, click here.

FOLLOW ALONG WITH THE GAME
A live webcast of Saturday's game as well as live statistics will be available at NCAA.com and GeneseoKnights.com (Live Stats | Live Video) while Geneseo student radio WGSU will be live from the Ira S. Wilson Ice Arena, as well. For the most in-depth coverage on all Geneseo's athletic programs, follow @GeneseoKnights on Instagram. 

YEAR IN REVIEW
The Ice Knights started the season on a high note, taking down Neumann, 4-1, on the road on Oct. 27, before winning their home opener against Nazareth in electric fashion just one day later. Following rookie forward Luke Panchisin's game-tying goal in the opening minutes of the third period, junior forward Stefan Miklakos grabbed a pass from graduate forward Tyson GIlmour and found the back of the net less than a minute into overtime to take down the Golden Flyers.

Geneseo claimed victories in seven of their first nine matchups, including four against SUNYAC opponents, before going on a torrent eight-game win streak in the middle of the season. The Ice Knights outscored their opponents, 43-10, during that stretch which included three shutouts. 

Following tough matchups against Hamilton and Plattsburgh in late January, the Ice Knights returned to their winning ways and finished out the regular season by winning six straight. Forwards Zach Rehbaum (senior) and Peter Morgan (junior) each scored in a highly-contested must-win matchup on Senior Knight against the Buffalo State Bengals to pave the way for the squad to secure the #1 overall seed in the SUNYAC Tournament. 

A 7-2 win over Morrisville in the regular season finale on Feb. 14 solidified the Ice Knights' 21-5-0 record overall, and 14-2-0 record in conference play this season. 

GENESEO IN THE SUNYAC
Geneseo closed the regular season with a 14-2-0 record in the State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) to clinch the top seed for the postseason tournament. Receiving a first-round bye to the semifinals, the Knights fell to the Cortland Red Dragons at home, 3-2. The Knights have remained a dominant force in the conference in recent years, winning five conference championships since 2015, and reaching the semifinal round of the postseason eight-straight times.

ALL-CONFERENCE HONORS
Geneseo's 2023-24 squad brought home nine All-SUNYAC honors at the conclusion of the regular season. Goaltender Adam Harris and defenseman Alex Wilkins earned First-Team recognition, forwards Alex Dameski and Peter Morgan claimed Second-Team honors, forward Tyson Gilmour and defenseman Dakota Zarudny Third-Team, and forward Luke Panchisin, defenseman Sterling Wolters, and goalie Jacob Torgner rounded out the award-winners as All-Rookie team members. Harris added to his resume by being named SUNYAC Goaltender of the Year, as well.

GENESEO IN THE NCAA TOURNAMENT
Geneseo has made its way back to the NCAA Tournament after missing out last season, for its seventh appearance since the 2013-14 season and tenth overall. The Knights last competed in the NCAA Tournament in 2021, defeating Babson, 3-2, in the quarterfinal round after earning a first-round bye. The team then went on to take down University of New England, 8-3, before falling to Adrian in the program's first NCAA Championship game. In 2020, the Knights also earned a first-round bye and were slated to take on the winner of Adrian v. Hobart before the COVID-19 Pandemic canceled play. 

GENESEO VS. CURRY
Saturday night marks only the eighth time that Geneseo and Curry have faced off. The last meeting between the programs was during the 2009-10 season, and the Knights hold a 4-3 all-time record against the Colonels.

ALEXANDER THE GREAT
Sophomore forward Alex Dameski ranked third in the nation in goals per game this season, scoring .76 goals on average. His 19 total goals through 25 games played were also good enough for second in the SUNYAC conference. Geneseo reaped the benefits, as they went 12-2 in games Dameski scored in during the regular season.

PISTOL PETE
Junior forward Peter Morgan ranked 12th in the country with 1.31 points per game this year, as he tallied 34 points in 26 games. The third-year ranked first in the conference in assists with 24 en route to recording his 100th career point as a member of the Ice Knights.

A NEW HOPE
First-year forward Luke Panchisin's collegiate career got off to a thrilling start, as he found the back of the net in each of his first four games. Geneseo's rookie ended the year with 11 goals and 30 points before being named to the SUNYAC All-Rookie team.

NOT JUST DEFENDERS
Ice Knights' defenders Alex Wilkins (graduate), Dakota Zarudny (sophomore), and Diarmad DiMurro (junior) paved the way for the squad to claim the 15th ranked scoring defense in the country this season. That wasn't the only way they contributed however, as multiple players on the defensive half of the ice recorded more than 15 points on the year.

FLOAT LIKE A BUTTERFLY
Goaltenders Adam Harris (junior) and Jacob Torgner (freshman) worked as a cohesive platoon all season long, with both appearing in at least 13 games for the Ice Knights this year. Both netminders ranked in the top five in the conference in goals allowed on average, with Harris being named SUNYAC Goaltender of the Year and Torgner ranking third in the nation in save percentage (.944).

BEHIND THE SCENES
Check out Geneseo Athletics newest version of Mic'd Up, featuring Alex Wilkins at practice this week ahead of their NCAA Tournament game.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U-8y7hf1n7A&ab_channel=GeneseoKnights


THE COLONELS
Curry had three players this season finish above 20 points, with Gage Dill and Eelis Laaksonen leading the way at 27 points each. In goal, Shane Soderwall started 19 games for the Colonels, starting 16 games and tallying 475 saves with a GAA of just 1.66. Soderwall led the Commonwealth Coast Conference in GAA and save percentage (.942).