Geneseo’s Perfect League Record Meets Fisher’s Giant-Killing Run in the Empire 8 Semifinals

The Empire 8 semifinals are set for today, and the top seed has a target on its back. SUNY Geneseo, 9-0 in the league and 14-3 overall, host No. 5 St. John Fisher at 4 p.m. ET (2 a.m. PKT Thursday). Fisher got here by going on the road and beating No. 4 Houghton 2-0 in Saturday’s first round, and a team that has already won one knockout game away from home is not going to be overawed by a second.

The other semifinal starts earlier. No. 3 SUNY Brockport, who edged No. 6 Utica 1-0 on Saturday, travel to No. 2 Hartwick at 2 p.m. ET (12 a.m. PKT Thursday). Brockport’s game is built on tight margins, and a one-goal first-round win tells you everything about how they play. Hartwick, as the higher seed, get the home turf and the expectation that comes with it.

The two winners meet in Saturday’s championship final at the highest remaining seed, with the conference’s automatic NCAA Division III tournament berth on the line. Geneseo have been the class of the league all season, but Fisher have already shown they can ruin a favourite’s week. That’s what knockout hockey is for.