CORTLAND, N.Y. - The Cortland men's hockey team scored three third-period goals to break open a close game in earning a 5-1 victory versus Morrisville St. Friday night in SUNYAC action at Alumni Arena. The Red Dragons improved to 3-5 overall and 2-4 in the conference, while the Mustangs fell to 3-3 and 3-2.

Sophomore Ethan Homitz (Allison Park, PA/New Hampshire Monarchs) led Cortland with two goals. Sophomore Hayden Hart (Potsdam/Smith Falls Bears) and freshman Luca Esposito (Bolton, ON/Markham Royals) each recorded a goal and an assist, and junior Conor Tierney (Point Pleasant, NJ/Philadelphia Flyers) added a goal.

Senior Douglas Elgstam (Stockholm, Sweden/New Jersey Rockets) and junior Louis DiMatteo (Nobleton, ON/Trenton Golden Hawks) collected two assists apiece. Senior Stefano Alonzi (King City, ON/Burlington Cougars), junior Tommy Ritchie (Spencerport/New York PAL Islanders) and sophomore Oliver Lester (Calgary, AB/Prince George Spruce Kings) each registered an assist.

Senior goalie Nick Modica (Suffern/New Jersey Hitmen) turned aside 25 shots for the Red Dragons.

Freshman Eric Melso (Philadelphia, PA/Binghamton Jr. Senators) scored his team-high sixth goal of the season for the Mustangs. Senior Jared Young (Pueblo West, CO/Dells Ducks) started in goal for Morrisville St., making 29 saves in 46:25. Sophomore Jorgen Johnson (Waterford, MI/Cobourg Cougars) took over in the third period and stopped three shots in 11:51.

After a scoreless first period, Hart gave Cortland the lead at 6:42 of the second period with a wrist shot from the right circle on the power play. Melso tied the game at 9:06, converting a breakaway after blocking a shot. The Red Dragons gained the lead for good when Homitz knocked in a loose puck 31 seconds before the end of the period.

Esposito made it a 3-1 score 2:04 into the third period, putting his own rebound past Young. Homitz netted his second goal of the game and team-high sixth of the season at the 6:25 mark on a deflection in front for a 4-1 Red Dragon lead. The Mustangs pulled Johnson with 2:28 remaining and on a power play, but Tierney sealed the win with an empty-net short-handed goal at 19:05.

The same teams meet tomorrow at Alumni Arena at 5 p.m.

Cortland 5, Morrisville St. 1

Score by periods:
Morrisville St.    0-1-0    1
Cortland            0-2-3    5

Scoring Summary (Goals-Assists)
Morrisville St.: Eric Melso 1-0
Cortland: Ethan Homitz 2-0, Hayden Hart 1-1, Luca Esposito 1-1, Conor Tierney 1-0, Douglas Elgstam 0-2, Louis DiMatteo 0-2, Tommy Ritchie 0-1, Stefano Alonzo 0-1, Oliver Lester 0-1

Saves: Jared Young (Morrisville St.) 29 saves (4 GA in 46:25), Jorgen Johnson (Morrisville St.) 3 saves (0 GA in 11:51), Empty Net 1 GA in 1:44; Nick Modica (Cortland) 25 saves (1 GA in 60:00)
Shots on Goal: Cortland 37 (13-16-8), Morrisville St. 26 (11-7-8)
Penalties: Cortland 7-14:00, Morrisville St. 4-8:00
Power Play: Morrisville St. 0-7, Cortland 1-4

Records after game: Cortland (Red Dragons) 3-5, 2-4 SUNYAC; Morrisville St. (Mustangs) 3-3, 3-2 SUNYAC