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DIVISION 3 COLLEGES DIVISION 3 COLLEGES KNIGHTS EMPTY THE TANK 18 NEW YORK HOCKEY JOURNAL April 2020 By Phil Shore NDREW ROMANO recorded his first collegiate point in the third game of his freshman season. He assisted sopho- more forward Arthur Gordon for the first goal in a game against SUNYAC rival Oswego, the first time he would face the Lakers. Although his efforts would help Geneseo take the lead, the Knights eventually lost the game, 5-3. It was the first loss that season — the first of Romano's col- legiate career — and it would not be the last. Geneseo lost six other games that season, including a SUNY- AC tournament semifinal game against Plattsburgh, denying the program a chance to play for the confer- ence championship as well as a spot in the NCAA tournament. Romano also scored his final collegiate point against Oswego, again doing so on the first goal of the game to give Geneseo a 1-0. This time, however, the Knights would hold on to win the game, and this time, it helped the program win the SUNYAC tour- nament championship, the third consecutive title for both Geneseo and Romano. In his four years, many points were accumulated, accolades accepted, and championships earned. It was a journey that Geneseo head coach Chris Schultz, who led the SUNYAC Coaching Staff of the Year and was named a finalist for AHCA Ed Jeremiah Award for Division 3 Coach of the Year, was proud to be a part of. "It was awesome, actually," Schultz said. "He came in as a highly touted recruit at the D-3 level. He grew so much as a player and person. We have be- come very good friends, and I'm really proud of the way he evolved into a leader. He commanded the ice and room along with (fellow senior forward Conlan) Keenan. He is the perfect example of needing your seniors to be your best players and not your most en- titled players in order to win games." Romano did not miss a single game in his career, and his senior season might have been his most impressive. In 27 games, Romano had 14 goals and 42 assists Keith Walters/SUNY Geneseo Athletics A n NCAA quest derailed, but Andrew Romano and stellar senior class lead Geneseo to third straight SUNYAC crown Senior captain Conlan Keenan, a Rochester, N.Y., native who played for the Jersey Hitmen, hoists the SUNYAC tourney trophy to the Ira S. Wilson Arena faithful after Geneseo topped Oswego, 4-1, on March 7. Andrew Romano