[Online] Bruin hockey loses penalty-plagued game
By Raffi Martinian
Nov. 9, 2003 9:00 p.m.
The UCLA men’s hockey team was riding high with two
consecutive wins going into Friday night’s game against
Washington, but the team ended up losing 7-6 in a shootout.
“We lost the game, they didn’t win it,”
assistant coach Patrick Masson said.
That sentiment was echoed by Washington coach Cindy Dayley and
resonated throughout the Bruins’ locker room after the
game.
“The score wasn’t indicative of the game,”
admitted Dayley.
The Huskies used a strong first period to accumulate a 4-0 lead
before the UCLA junior forward Ryan Samec tallied a goal with 15.8
seconds to play in the opening frame.
Washington would again get on the board first at the 14:53 mark
of the second period, increasing its advantage to 5-1. With the
second period winding down and the Bruins’ hopes fleeting,
Samec scored with 38 seconds to play. His shot beat
Washington’s goalie top shelf after a great individual effort
streaking down the left side of the ice to score and get his team
and the crowd back into the game.
The Bruins scored once more prior to the second intermission as
senior defenseman Stu Szuch added a goal with 9.1 seconds to play
in what was an unbelievable turn of events.
The third period opened in dramatic fashion. UCLA freshman
goaltender Adam Kubalski made save after save, keeping the score
5-3, denying the Huskies on breakaway and centering chances in
front of the crease. The Bruins seized the opportunity and scored
on a power play goal by freshman forward Scott Freschet at the
18:32 mark to make it a one goal contest. However, a crosschecking
penalty on UCLA in Washington’s zone hurt the
team’s momentum and the Huskies took advantage, scoring with
16:06 to play to take the wind out of the Bruins’ sails.
“We beat ourselves and they did a good job of capitalizing
on our mistakes,” sophomore defenseman Carlos Cazares said.
“We spent a lot of time in their zone, we just need to put
the puck in the back of the net and finish plays.”
The Bruins had several great scoring opportunities in the
period, including a centering chance from a pass behind the net,
but the Huskies’ goalie closed the door on the Bruins faster
than if an annoying salesman was on the front porch.
Junior Eric Allen was then called for a penalty at the
nine-minute mark. The Husky that was plastered by Allen skated
toward him at full speed with revenge in mind, only to be pummeled
again by the hard-hitting Allen. Much to the delight of the
delirious and uncouth crowd, the Husky player fell to the ground,
as if somebody had yanked him by a leash.
“The refs forgot that it was hockey and that we can have
contact,” Allen said of his penalty.
He was given a five-minute major that ended his night early.
Allen had an assist in the game.
“Allen played a great game, his checking line has
contributed and allowed the other two lines to rest,” Masson
said.
Washington made it 7-4 on a goal at the 8:48 mark. After a
series of scrums that ended in what looked to be a football match,
the players were separated and several penalties were assessed.
“There’s a lot of big guys out there … I hit one
of “˜em,” added sophomore forward Alex Omoto, smiling
from ear to ear.
The Bruins killed off an ensuing 5-on-3 penalty at the four
minute mark of the third, using a tight triangle formation in front
of Kubalski. He faced over 50 shots in the contest and denied many
scoring opportunities with tremendous post to post range.
“Our team defense let us down and we have to recognize the
transition game from offense to defense better. The entire team
needs to respond to the play,” Masson said.
UCLA freshman defenseman and newcomer Brad Whitworth took
advantage of the penalty kill, adding his first goal of the contest
and cutting into the Huskies’ lead.
“We had trouble on offense in the beginning of the game,
but once we started shooting, the goals started coming,”
Whitworth said.
At the 1:26 mark, after UCLA threatened in the Huskies’
zone, a breakdown in defense combined with an all-out UCLA attack,
allowed the Huskies to add a breakaway goal, making the final score
8-5. UCLA sophomore Nick Hertz had an assist in the contest.
Sophomore forward Bryan Song and junior defenseman Jay Herwitz both
had two minutes in minor penalties.
