Canton, NY – The SUNY Canton men's hockey team nearly overcame a three goal deficit against visiting Johnson & Wales University on Saturday evening but fell, 4-2, despite holding an impressive 46-33 edge in shots.

The Wildcats (13-3-0) got on the board first 11:57 into the first when Cody Sarmiento scored his team-leading eighth of the season off a pass from Stefan Brucato. Sarmiento drilled a low-lining shot in from outside the right faceoff circle and with Roo goaltender Morgan Barr (Almonte, ON) shielded by traffic out in front the puck was able to find its way past him for the early 1-0 lead.

The Johnson & Wales penalty kill unit was strong in the opening period killing off a 5-on-3 for 54 seconds. The Wildcats picked up an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty at the end of the first that allowed the Roos to open the second frame on a power play for two minutes.

The Wildcats added a second score at the 8:06 mark when Matt Lanzillotti played the puck from left to right to Drew Kariofiles at the right circle. Kariofiles sniped a perfect shot top shelf into the left corner just under the cross bar. With 1:20 remaining in the second Kariofiles set up Jason Healey who nailed a screamer just inside the right post past the glove of Barr to make it 3-0 Johnson & Wales.

The Roos (3-13-2) responded with 46 seconds to play in the second. Dave Ferris (Saratoga Springs, NY) took an initial shot from the right circle that was turned aside by Wildcat goaltender Joey Ballmer but Dave Schneider (Indianapolis, IN) picked up the rebound on the left side of net and one-timed a pass to Zach Paisley (Yonkers, NY) on the right. Paisley put it home with ease, tallying his third goal in two games to make it 3-1 Johnson & Wales after two.

SUNY Canton got within one goal at the 8:17 mark of the third when Nick Vasilopoulos (Montreal, QUE) lit the lamp for the third straight game off passes from Logan McDougall (Saranac Lake, NY) and Cory Giczewski (Fountain Valley, CA).

Five minutes later Johnson & Wales added a power play marker from Josh Obregon to make it 4-2 Wildcats. SUNY

Canton pulled the goaltender in favor of the extra skater but was unable to add a late goal resulting in the 4-2 final.

The 46 shots on goal are a season-high for the Roos. Johnson & Wales was effective on the power play going 2-for-4 well SUNY Canton was 0-for-4 on the night. Barr made 29 saves for the hosts, while Ballmer had a strong game turning aside 44 Roo shots.

The men's hockey team is back in action Thursday at 6:40 p.m. when it travels to Milton, MA to take on Curry College.