Due to its huge win over Skaneateles on Dec. 9, the Solvay ice hockey team breathed new and rarified air atop the Division II West standings. That nearly proved to overwhelm the Bearcats, for it could only manage a 3-3 tie with the Cortland/Homer Eagles last Wednesday night at State Fair Coliseum. It didn’t start out well, as Solvay played with lethargy in the first period, unable to generate many scoring chances as it stayed 0-0. In fact, the Bearcats didn’t wake up until Cortland/Homer’s Paul Zimmerman scored off a turnover 4:52 into the second period. Now alert, Solvay answered 38 seconds later as Josh Ginestro scored off a feed from Tim Burgess. Late in the period, Solvay appeared to seize command with a quick outburst. Mike Sniffen scored at the 12:13 mark to put the Bearcats ahead 2-1 and, just 23 seconds later, Burgess streaked in and converted to double the margin. But just when it looked like Solvay would take a two-goal margin to the locker room, Homer’s Carl Zimmerman converted one second before the second-period siren sounded. Fired up by that goal, Homer tied it on Matt Porter’s tally just 31 seconds into the third period. Despite all kinds of chances on both ends, it would stay 3-3, with Ryan Bonk recording 25 saves and Eagles counterpart Brett Kash earning 29 saves. The Bearcats (3-0-1 league, 5-3-1 overall) are off until Tuesday’s game with CBA/J-D, after which it awaits play in the annual King of the Coliseum Tournament on Dec. 29 and 30.