(Canton, N.Y.)- A short-handed goal from sophomore forward John Payne (Port Moody, B.C.) in the second period proved to be the difference as the SUNY Canton men's ice hockey team defeated Syracuse University 3-1 in an ACHA Division I game Friday night at the Canton Pavilion.

The Roos, who have clinched the Eastern Collegiate Hockey League regular season championship, improved to 23-8 and won their fifth game in their last seven outings.  The 19th-ranked Roos also avenged a 2-1 loss to the Orangemen back in January in Central New York.

The game was a physical contest but well played by both teams before a spirited crowd on “Pack the Stands” night at the Pavilion.   Students that attended the game received free hoodies and cowbells and the nearly 300 people in attendence made their presence known from the opening faceoff.

There were only nine penalties whistled on both teams and just one in a fast-moving first period that saw very few whistles at all.   Despite a low amount of shots on goal by both teams, the Roos held a 26-21 advantage, both teams had many outstanding scoring opportunities.

Syracuse took a 1-0 lead at the 14:25 mark after Mike Dillane's initial shot for the Orangemen rang the right post and popped right back to the stick of Mike McConney who slipped it past Roos goalie Jimmy Merrow (Plainsboro, N.Y.).  But that would be the only score Merrow allowed as the senior came up with several terrific saves throughout the night and limited Syracuse to very few second opportunities.  Merrow finished with 20 saves.

Payne tied the game with 1:31 left in the opening stanza.  With the Roos power play winding down, a shot was blocked by Syracuse goalie Andrew Collingham and the puck dropped right in front of Payne who flipped it into the back of the net to deadlock the score.

Payne then netted his second goal, which proved to be the game-winner, at the 17:02 mark of the second period with the Roos a man down.  The play was started by junior forward Rob Liggio (Canton, N.Y.) who intercepted a pass at center ice and pushed the puck down the right wing and into the corner.  Liggio was eventually able to shovel the puck out in front of the net to a waiting Payne who one-timed it past Colllingham for a 2-1 lead.  Collingham finished with 23 saves.

Freshman forward Eric Richard (St. Hubert, Quebec) rounded out the scoring with a goal at the 2:59 mark of the final period off assists from Cory Bercume (Potsdam, N.Y.) and Ryan Bercume (Potsdam, N.Y.).

SUNY Canton plays their final regular season game Saturday night against the University of Rochester at 7:30 p.m. at the Pavilion.  It will be "Senior Night" as the the three graduating players on the team, Merrow, Eric Cook (Cary, N.C.) and Garrett Rosenbaum (Charleston, S.C.), will be honored during the game.