News
Briefly
Calendar of Events
Commentary
Opinions
Sports
Diversions
Special Report: Methamphetamine
World News
Classifieds
Login
Letter Submission
Search
Archive
Publishing Policy
Mail Subscriptions
St. Cloud State University
College Publisher
Home
>
Sports
Huskies fall in trip to RPI
By Bobby Hart
Published:
Monday, November 24, 2003
After getting the benefit of some friendly bounces that led to a sweep against No. 1 UND in Grand Forks two weeks ago, the SCSU men's hockey team tasted the other side of the spectrum this weekend when they were swept 3-2 and 2-1 by Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in a non-conference series.
Both of RPI's game-winning goals came from some awkward deflections off players. RPI forward Vic Pereira flicked a shot on net with 3:28 remaining that deflected off Husky defenseman Justin Fletcher's rear end and slipped between Husky goalie Jason Montgomery's legs in Friday night's 3-2 RPI win.
Although SCSU outshot RPI 31-20 in the game, the Huskies couldn't break RPI goaltender Nathan Marsters, who had 29 saves.
The Huskies struck first with 3:25 left in the first period when SCSU senior captain Matt Hendricks took a pass from defenseman Matt Gens near the right slot and slid the shot under Marsters.
RPI answered back at the 5:44 mark of the second period when Mark Yurkewecz skated on the right side of a 2-1 across from teammate Ben Barr. Husky defender Casey Borer slipped and went down on the play, and Yurkewecz found Barr on the left post at the last second to tie the game.
Gens gave the Huskies the lead again at the 8:13 mark of the second period during a power-play with a wrister from the perimeter that managed to get past Marsters, who had Hendricks screening him.
RPI used a power-play at the 14:49 mark of the second period to get even again at 3-3 when Kirk MacDonald capitalized on a rebound.
After battling back and forth it seemed only inevitable that Pereira's shot would find a way to trickle into the net to seal the victory for the Pioneers.
"We were getting those lucky bounces the first few weekends but I'm the kind of guy that looks at it like 'you create your own bounces with a lot of work,'" Hendricks said. "Not that we didn't work hard but they had that little extra step."
However, it wouldn't be the only funny bouncing heartbreaker the Huskies would face in the series.
RPI's leading scorer Kevin Croxton found his first glimpse of daylight all weekend at 10:18 of the third period for the game-winning power-play goal. However, his shot found some help when it deflected off an RPI player on its way inside the left post and past first-year SCSU goalie Tim Boron.
The Huskies again scored the first goal of the game when Mike Doyle scored his team-leading fifth goal of the season (tied with linemate Dave Iannazzo) on a Husky power-play assisted by Billy Hengen at the 8:54 mark of the first period.
Pioneer defenseman Matt McNeely tied the game 4:50 into the second period when he broke away along the right boards and put an uncontested shot past Boron.
The Huskies received another unfortunate break when first-year forward senior Andy Lundbohm appeared to score the go ahead goal, but it was called back due to a crease violation by Bille Luger.
It was the same story for the Huskies, who again outshot the Pioneers, this time 36-24, but were stifled again by Marsters who racked up 35 saves.
"He was good but we didn't get the quality shots that we need," Doyle said. "We need to work on capitalizing on our opportunities and picking a spot instead of just throwing shots on net."
Instead, MacDonald sealed the 2-1 victory for RPI who now moves to 6-3-2 in the ECAC conference. The Huskies now move to 8-3-1 and will probably be bumped out of the top 10 national polls this week, however, the losses won't affect their WCHA standings, which still has them on top with 13 points, three ahead of UND.
The sweep may have been a slice of humble pie for a Husky team that had a hot 8-0-1 start to the season.
"It's kind of a reality check," Hendricks said. "Fortunately for us it was a non-conference game so it's not going to hurt us in the WCHA. After starting off so hot, it kind of makes everyone regather their thoughts and we know that we have to go back to work."
Forum:
displaying
1
-
3
of
3
top level comments
I don't know what series you were watchi... (11/24/03)
To Mr. Hart Being you are the sport... (11/25/03)
WHOA! Back off on Bobby you hockey mulle... (11/25/03)
Post a comment
