11/5/2012

Having finally snapped their losing streak against Ohio University last week, the UT Hockey team looked to start a new streak this weekend when they played archrival Bowling Green in a home-and-home series.  The Falcons have traditionally fielded a strong team and finished last season ranked 8^th in the region.  With the majority of their roster from that team intact, the Rockets knew they would have their hands full.  The team also knew this was their best opportunity to establish themselves within the regional rankings and gain some respect amongst the rest of the ACHA.

With this is mind, the Rockets took the ice Friday night at Bowling Green more focused and determined than perhaps they had been most of the season.  They then rose to the challenge and quickly left no doubt that they could play with a reputable program like BG.  Dan Lopez opened up the scoring on a bad angle shot with 5:25 remaining in the first period.  Chris Easton soon followed with a goal of his own less than a minute later.  Easton had help from Brendon Sokoloski on the marker.  The Rockets took a 2-0 lead into the first intermission.

As any hockey coach will tell you, a two goal cushion is the worst lead to have in a hockey game.  In response, the Rockets wasted no time in adding another goal, capitalizing on a power play opportunity 6 minutes into the period.  Brent Bain picked up the goal with help from Tyler Althouse and Easton.  Like in the first period, UT once again used the new momentum to quickly add another goal with 13:27 left to play.  This time Sven Weisser found the back of the net with help from Garryt Kujawa.  Later in the period, Kujawa would add a goal of his own making the score 5-0.  Zach Born picked up the assist.  Once again, the Rockets would take a lead into the locker room at intermission.

Knowing how lethal the Falcon attack could be if they got on track, the Rockets kept the pressure on early in the 3^rd and added a 6^th goal from Althouse.  Althouse was set up on the power play goal by Nate Connolly.  Later in the period, Connolly would add his own power play goal, with Althouse returning the favor and getting one assist and Ryan Sell adding his name to the score sheet with the other.  Up 7-0, the Rockets relaxed slightly giving up a goal and the shut out with 3:10 to go.  Regardless, goalie Craig Trego still turned in an outstanding performance turning away multiple point blank chances in a 42 save effort.

Overall, it was a balanced, consistent attack from the Rockets but one which they would need to be repeated again on Saturday to prove it wasn’t a fluke.  Besides the difficulty in beating a good opponent like BGSU two nights in a row, the team would also have to deal with a series of injuries sustained in the physical Friday night battle.  Freshmen Dominic Antonelli was forced out of the line up Saturday due to a broken and displaced pinky finger.  Senior captain Dan Conway also had to sit out due to a broken index finger.  Chris Easton attempted to return from a lower body injury that forced him to leave Friday’s game early but was unable.  Luckily, the Rockets depth and solid goaltending would once again pull them through.

Sven Weisser would once again start the scoring early with a goal at 13:35 of the first period.  Helping out were Kujawa and Zach Kinney.  Scoring in bunches, Zach Born quickly followed with a goal on assists from Bain and freshmen Brent Easton.  Once again, the Rockets were out to a 2-0 lead.  This time though, the Falcons would quickly answer and the teams went to the locker room with the score 2-1.

To start the second Bowling Green would showcase their own quick strike capabilities with back-to-back goals in the first six minutes of play.  Trailing for the first time all weekend, Kujawa found the equalizer on assists from Lopez and Henrick Knejfl.  Seconds later, the Rockets would retake the lead with Weisser scoring his second goal of the night.  Assists went to Connolly and Sell.  The 2^nd period ended with the Rockets up 4-3.

The Falcons would battle back in the third to once again tie the score but UT stood their ground and Born was able to add his second goal of the night.  This would be the game winner and came with 3:44 to play.  Althouse and Bain picked up the assists.  This capped off a great night for Born who started to show some of the offensive spark the team had expected from the AAA product.  His physical play throughout the game also set a tone which kept the momentum in the Rockets favor.  Craig Trego was able to withstand the final flurry of BG scoring chance enroute to a 24 save performance.

The clean sweep of BGSU puts the Rockets back in control of their own destiny in terms of making a trip to regionals this year.  Obviously, the season is still far from over but these wins are the perfect stepping stone as the team embarks on 6 straight games against conference opponents.  The team starts this series with a trip to Pennsylvania this coming weekend to take on Pitt and Indiana University of Pennsylvania.