Eric Bogart extends to make a save (Keith Walters photo).
For the second straight year, the Fredonia men's hockey team saw its season end in Geneseo's Ira S. Wilson Ice Arena.
Looking to avenge a 7-1 loss to Geneseo last March in the SUNYAC championship game, the Blue Devils (15-8-4) fell this time 5-2 in Saturday's conference semifinal.
The host Knights (23-1-2), ranked No. 2 in both national NCAA Division III polls, dominated after the first period and moved on next Saturday's title matchup against Oswego, which eliminated Plattsburgh, 3-2, in the other semifinal.
Max Blitz (Chino Hills, Calif.) and Jimmy Morgan (Highlands Ranch, Colo.) scored for Fredonia while five different players scored for Geneseo.
Blue Devil goaltender Eric Bogart (London, Ont.), one of eight seniors in the Fredonia lineup, was credited with 33 saves.
The Knights took an early lead, 1-0, on a pretty 2-on-1 play, Conlan Keenan connecting for his NCAA-leading 22nd goal of the season at 3:50 of the first period.
A Geneseo turnover set up Fredonia's first goal. Blitz intercepted a clearing pass and fired a shot from just inside the blue line. The puck traveled through a maze of players and into the top right corner behind goaltender Devin McDonald at 13:36 of the first period. It was Blitz's second goal this season.
The first period ended tied 1-1.
Geneseo dominated the second period. The Knights scored four goals and outshot the Blue Devils, 13-4. Two of the goals came on power plays, including the first, by Romano while the Blue Devils were down two men, the result of two minor penalties 22 seconds apart.
Morgan, another senior and an assistant captain, scored the only goal of the third period, a wrist shot from the left circle at 8:26. It was his 10th goal of the season and his 35th and last as a collegian, most among current Blue Devils.
Also appearing in their final collegiate game were captain Mike Freeman (Westchester, Ill.), assistant captain Kyle Jelinski (Edmonton, Alberta), Bobby Polachek (Kingston, Pa.), Todd Schauss (Terryville, Conn.), Luke Rivera (Pacific Palisades, Calif.) and Jon Carlson (Fort Frances, Ont.).
