Pioneers Pride
This story first appeared on the New England Hockey Journal
website. To read the original story written by Jim Connelly
click here.
By Jim ConnellyNov 07 2007 4:07 PM
A thorn in the side.
A pain in the neck.
You can find a half dozen clichés that summarize how Sacred
Heart felt about fellow Nutmeg State rival UConn in recent season.
But after finishing off a weekend sweep of Huskies last weekend,
there's a more important cliché that rings true for the
Pioneers: live for the moment.
Despite having lost the season series to UConn each of the last
three seasons, Sacred Heart indeed lived for the moment this
weekend - beating the Huskies in resounding fashion, 4-2 and 5-0.
It was the first sweep of a weekend series against UConn since the
2003-04 season.
One thing that can't be lost was Sacred Heart's ability to get out
of the gate fast both games. On Friday, the Pioneers opened a 2-0
lead in the first and withstood UConn's charge that twice brought
them within a goal.
On Saturday, it again was the Pioneers jumping out front, this time
with two second period tallies. Road mentality in check, there was
no letting off the accelerator as the Pioneers sailed to the 5-0
victory.
If anything, the Pioneers have to take solace in a solid start to
league play, having begun their slate with a 3-0-1 record. Now the
question that will face this club is whether it can maintain its
torrid pace throughout the season.
NEHJ Player of the Week
Marc Menzione, So., Bentley Needing a boost after a 1-1 draw at
home against AIC, Bentley got that lift from Menzione, who netted a
hat trick in Saturday night's rematch. It's the first hat trick by
a Bentley player since 2005 and only the fifth since the club
joined the Division 1 level in 1999.
Looking Ahead
Mercyhurst at Michigan State, Friday & Saturday, Nov. 9 &
10 It's not too often that a member of Atlantic Hockey will face
off against the defending national champion, but that will be the
case this Friday as Mercyhurst travels to East Lansing, Mich. The
Lakers are coming off a split with Atlantic Hockey's NCAA
representative from a year ago, Air Force. Goaltender Ryan
Zapolski, filling in for the injured Matt
Lundin, could be the deciding factor in this game.
Around Atlantic Hockey
Air Force
Forward Eric Ehn, entering this year with high
expectations after being a Hobey Baker finalist a year ago, finally
notched his first goal of the season in a 6-2 win over Mercyhurst.
Ehn scored 24 goals a year ago in earning the Hobey nomination.
AIC
While the Yellow Jackets still search for their first win, it
appears they're creeping closer. AIC dropped a tough 3-2 road
decision to Quinnipiac on Tuesday night before earning a 1-1 road
tie at Bentley on Friday. Getting a point for the tie in game three
is a significant improvement from a year ago when AIC didn't
register a win or tie until its 13th game of the season.
Army
A 22-day span away from home will finally come to an end for Army
this Saturday when the Black Knights return to Tate Rink for the
second of a two-game, home-and-home series with AIC. Army last
played at home Oct. 19 against RPI.
Bentley
The Falcons earned their first road win of the season, soundly
defeating AIC in Springfield Saturday after starting the year with
four road losses. Bentley is desperate to improve on a 3-17-1 road
record from last season.
Canisius
The Griffs opened eyes over the weekend - splitting a series with
red-hot RIT. After dropping a 4-3 decision, when RIT scored two
late goals to rally, Canisius dominated the Tigers Saturday night -
earning a 6-2 victory. Junior Spencer Churchill
record three assists on the weekend to give him six on the season,
one short of his career high.
UConn
With two losses to Sacred Heart, UConn is in the midst of a
four-game losing streak - the longest since a five-game losing
streak that opened the 2006-07 season. ... Goaltender
Beau Erickson was replaced mid-game on Saturday,
only the second time that has happened in his career (Oct. 27, 2006
at Mercyhurst).
Holy Cross
Holy Cross senior Dale Reinhardt is just two
points away from reaching the 100 career point plateau. He
currently ranks eighth on the all-time Division I Holy Cross
scoring list... The Crusaders are currently converting at a 33.3
percent success rate on the power play, second in the nation behind
only Wisconsin (34.4 percent).
Mercyhurst
Senior captain Ben Cottreau is making an early
statement offensively. Cottreau has scored in each of his last six
games and has factored into nine of Mercyhurst's 14 goals this
season.
RIT
RIT's 6-2 loss to Canisius on Saturday was its worst loss since
joining Atlantic Hockey a season ago. The last time an RIT team
suffered a four-goal loss was against Quinnipiac on October 13,
2005, the program's first game at the Division I level.
Sacred Heart
The Pioneers earned their first road win at UConn on Saturday night
since January 31, 2004... The 5-0 shutout on Saturday for
goaltender Stefan Drew was his first of the season
and third of his career.
