Overconfident UCLA loses face to rival USC

Tuesday, October 22, 1996

CLUBS:

Trojans shame pre-game cocky Bruins by dominating the iceBy John
Kelly

Daily Bruin Contributor

Joe Namath predicted a victory before Super Bowl III, and
stunned the world when he and his underdog Jets trounced the Colts.
Jimmy Johnson predicted "We will win the ballgame" before the NFC
title game in ’93.The Cowboys blew out the Niners on the way to
Super Bowl XXVIII.

Before last Sunday’s matchup between the UCLA and USC ice hockey
teams, Bruin defenseman Patrick Masson predicted that "It’s going
to be a slaughter. We’re going to destroy them."

Masson’s reaction after the game? "I’m not going to make any
more predictions," Masson said.

He would be well advised not to, as his team suffered a
humiliating 3­1 home loss to the Trojans at the Disney Ice
Arena in Anaheim.

This loss stings in particularly after such grandiose statements
prior to the game.

"We heard that they played Cal to a tie, and we lost to them in
overtime, so we were expecting more," Trojan captain Brian Hoffman
said.

The Bruins, arrogant and cocky going into the match, hung their
heads in shame after the game.

"Our discipline stinks," Masson said after the game. "We were
disorganized … we sucked."

USC controlled the game from the start, with two goals in the
first period. A UCLA attempt to clear the boards in the second
period resulted in a Trojan breakaway goal.

"It was a good goal," Masson said of the game-breaker.

"He outskated the defenseman," Hoffman said.

Despite outshooting USC 32­19, the Bruins only managed to
score one goal in the third period, when the game was already out
of reach.

The Trojans gleefully celebrated their strong victory.

"I mean, it was their home game, and we had twice as many fans,"
Hoffman said. "We’re still rough, but they are close to mid-season
form, and we dominated."

Despite the infuriating loss, the Bruins hope to improve upon
their 0­2­2 record this weekend in Berkeley ­
playing two games against Cal.

"We’re only taking 15 players, and we might do better," Masson
said.

GENEVIEVE LIANG

The Bruins came out the loser in their face off with archrival
USC on Sunday.