Monday, November 26, 2012
Women's Hockey - at Syracuse (23/24 Nov)
If you were hoping to see the Engineers close out their two weekends of non-conference play on a positive note, you were sorely disappointed this weekend as RPI was shutout 4-0 on consecutive nights at the hands of the Syracuse Orange. While the Orange have been steadily improving since starting their Division I team in 2008, there's no good way to spin the results of this weekend for the Engineers, which saw them outshot by a 60-31 margin across their two games.
Friday
Mahoney/Gruschow/Horton
Smelker/Wash/Svoboda
Sanders/Padmore/Mari Mankey
Letuligasenoa/Wash
Le Donne/Schilter
Daniels/Banks
Godin/Marzario
O'Brien
A first period in which RPI was outshot 14-1 set the tone for a rough afternoon, with Kelly O'Brien stopping 32 shots but the Engineers still surrendering four goals en route to a 4-0 defeat Friday evening at Tennity Ice Pavilion in Syracuse.
Margot Scharfe scored on the only power play of the first period to put the Orange up 1-0. Melissa Piacentini tacked on a goal just shy of the midpoint of the second period, then picked up a second at 7:01 of the third period to take it to 3-0.
With back to back power play chances in the latter half of the third period, RPI took a risk in pulling O'Brien in order to try for a 6-on-4 push, but the effort backfired and Holly Carrie-Mattimoe notched a shorthanded empty netter at 13:24 to make it a 4-0 game. O'Brien returned to the net for the remainder of the game and the 4-0 score stood with the Orange outshooting the Engineers 36-14 on the night.
Saturday
Smelker/Wash/Svoboda
Mahoney/Gruschow/Horton
Sanders/Padmore/Mari Mankey
Letuligasenoa/Wash
Godin/Marzario
Daniels/Banks
Le Donne/Schilter
O'Brien
While the overall effort from the Engineers improved from Friday to Saturday, back to back penalties in the third period made all the difference as a pair of power play goals helped push Syracuse to their second 4-0 shutout in a row.
A first period which had been going much better for RPI took a turn for the worse at 10:19 when Sadie St. Germain scored to give the Orange a 1-0 lead.
A fairly evenly matched second period followed, with RPI and Syracuse trading penalties but neither team capitalizing on their opportunities. In the third period, however, the wheels fell off for RPI once again.
A checking call on Lauren Wash early in the third period set Syracuse up for a power play goal just 16 seconds into the man advantage, and another penalty less than 30 seconds after the goal had Syracuse putting RPI in a 3-goal hole all before the five minute mark of the period.
An empty net goal would finish things off in much the same fashion as the night before, with the Engineers being shutout in consecutive games for the first time in nearly two years.
RPI returns to ECAC action next weekend with a rematch of their last league games at Quinnipiac and Princeton. The Engineers will need a substantially better effort then they've shown in the past few weeks if they hope to improve upon the sweep they suffered at the hands of these teams three weeks ago. Game times are 7pm Friday from Hamden and 4pm Saturday from Princeton.
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RPI vs. Syracuse
Non-Conference Game – Tennity Ice Pavilion (Syracuse, NY)
11/23/12 - 7pm
Syracuse 4, RPI 0
BOX SCORES:
USCHO: http://www.uscho.com/box/womens-hockey/2012/11/23/rensselaer-vs-syracuse/
College Hockey Stats: http://collegehockeystats.net/1213/boxes/wrensyr1.n23
RECAPS:
RPI: http://www.rpiathletics.com/news/2012/11/23/WICE_1123124333.aspx
SU: http://www.suathletics.com/news/2012/11/23/WICE_1123123100.aspx
RECORD: 2-9-2 (0-4-0 ECAC)
-----
RPI vs. Syracuse
Non-Conference Game – Tennity Ice Pavilion (Syracuse, NY)
11/24/12 - 4pm
Syracuse 4, RPI 0
BOX SCORES:
USCHO: http://www.uscho.com/box/womens-hockey/2012/11/24/rensselaer-vs-syracuse/
College Hockey Stats: http://collegehockeystats.net/1213/boxes/wrensyr1.n24
RECAPS:
RPI: http://www.rpiathletics.com/news/2012/11/24/WICE_1124123812.aspx
SU: http://www.suathletics.com/news/2012/11/24/WICE_1124124120.aspx
RECORD: 2-10-2 (0-4-0 ECAC)
-----
ECAC Standings
1. Cornell - 14 points (7-1-0)
2t. Clarkson - 12 points (6-0-0)
2t. Harvard - 12 points (6-0-0)
4. St. Lawrence - 10 points (5-1-0)
5. Quinnipiac - 9 points (4-3-1)
6. Dartmouth - 7 points (3-2-1)
7. Princeton - 4 points (1-5-2)
8t. Union - 2 points (0-2-2)
8t. Brown - 2 points (1-5-0)
8t. Yale - 2 points (0-5-1)
8t. Colgate - 2 points (0-6-2)
12. RPI - 0 points (0-4-0)
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Upcoming Games
Nov. 30 - at Quinnipiac (7pm)
Dec. 1 - at Princeton (4pm)
Dec. 7 - Brown (7pm)
Dec. 8 - Yale (4pm)
Friday, November 23, 2012
Orange Friday... and Saturday
It's becoming a yearly tradition for the women, and a fun one at that - an annual nonconference weekend against the Syracuse Orange.
If you go back several decades, you can find sports in which Syracuse and RPI once competed against each other - notably, four 'Cuse wins in football between 1901 and 1930, and a few lacrosse meetings back when both schools had excellent programs and there was little to no distinction between large and small schools. Syracuse, which not unreasonably brands itself as "New York's College Team," especially in the New York City area, doesn't have a huge offering of varsity athletics, but they do typically field competitive football (or used to), basketball, and lacrosse teams, something few schools can - but they practically never play schools like RPI.
Women's hockey is the exception. Ever since the Orange began their varsity program in 2009, they've had a yearly weekend of games against the Engineers, and after three seasons it's becoming a friendly rivalry that's been fairly close, as 'Cuse holds a 3-2-1 series edge. The series returns to Syracuse this weekend for the second time, where RPI picked up a win and a tie two years ago before a split in Troy last season.
Syracuse (6-5-1) split weekends with Union, Quinnipiac, and UConn earlier this season, all teams the Engineers have played with mediocre results. They're seeking to run with usual CHA beasts Mercyhurst, and doing a decent job of it sitting just one point back in the standings. Granted, Penn State is now in the CHA to provide some of those wins (two for the Orange), but 'Cuse has already eclipsed their overall point total from last season in just four games. All signs point to a tough weekend for an Engineer squad still searching for a boost - but not one that would be impossible to overcome with the right showing.
Here's this weekend's pumpup. Sure, it's about the Vietnam War, but the title's right.
Tuesday, November 20, 2012
Arguing With Math
So, the other day I was reading USCHO looking for some insight, and I found this.
Hard to argue with the math, which shows ECAC Hockey leading the way
Oh, really? Well, allow me to retort.
The argument that the ECAC "leads the way" nationally in this final season under the current structure is predicated apparently on one item alone - the league boasts the best non-conference record in the nation. That is true - the ECAC is 21-12-7 in non-conference play thus far, a national best .613. Eliminating AHA from the mix, you have a record against the "big three" of 11-8-3. Not bad at all.
Apparently, we're supposed to care that Dartmouth was #1 in the PairWise Rankings before last week's games, too.
OK, now before we start, let's be frank. We don't seek to pile on our own league here. In fact, we defend our league where we can - for example, two seasons ago when the larger college hockey world howled at the audacity of Yale claiming to be the top team in the nation (which they were for several weeks), the Bulldogs had few more fervent defenders than us.
But... seriously. Let's cut the crap.
First, the easy one. The PairWise are a complete joke in October, worthless in November, an oddity in December, intriguing in January, worth pondering in February, and vital in March. Let's see... yes, it's November.
Now, the more complex one.
This far into the early part of the season, if you want a general indication of which teams are doing well and which ones aren't, your best bet is actually... the polls. Yes, there are always a few jokers in there who don't know what they're talking about (see also whoever it was who had Union as the top team in the nation following the Dutchmen's tie with UConn, despite the existence of a Boston College team which is now 28-1 in its last 29 games). But by and large, it's good enough for its purpose this early in the season. Meaningless, of course, but at least an indicator.
And what do we have here! Five ranked ECAC teams? Inconceivable! Yes, Union, Dartmouth, Cornell, Harvard, and Quinnipiac are all ranked in the Top 20. That's a full quarter of the ranking. Heck, Hockey East only has three. But who are these teams playing outside of their own conference?
#1 BC: 1 CCHA
#2 DU: 1 Hockey East, 1 AHA
#3 UNH: 2 WCHA
#4 Minnesota: 2 CCHA, 1 AHA
Are we seeing a trend here?
#5 Miami: 2 ECAC, 2 Hockey East
Aha! Finally, a top team that has played against the ECAC. And... the final scores were Miami 3, Colgate 0 and Miami 5, Colgate 1. Way to go, Raiders. You let the whole conference down.
#6 Notre Dame: 2 Hockey East, 2 WCHA
#7 North Dakota: 1 CCHA, 2 Hockey East
#8 Union: No ranked non-conference opponents
#9 Western Michigan: 2 ECAC. 2 AHA
OK, what do we have here... oh, St. Lawrence beat WMU in overtime 4-3, then lost the next night 3-2. A split, not too shabby. But let's cut to the chase here. The ECAC is 5-5-1 against currently ranked teams. .500 isn't too bad, of course, but the only way to get there is to include Colgate's 10-3 win over now-#20 Niagara, and we aren't really seeking to compare the ECAC to Atlantic Hockey are we?
Cornell's sweep of Colorado College is about the only real noteworthy event for the league in nonconference play thus far. It's the only matchup that has taken place all season between a ranked ECAC team and another team that's ranked. And now they're being jumped in league play so far. The other four ranked ECAC teams? Their non-conference resumes don't include a single ranked team to date.
St. Lawrence's overtime win over Western Michigan probably ranks as the league's non-conference victory of the year - it is the only time an ECAC team has beaten a team in the Top 10 with the exception of Dartmouth's win over Union in league play.
The bottom line is that the ECAC may be doing well outside the conference, but the majority of the success is coming against the middle and bottom third of the national strata, and the league's standard-bearers aren't exactly collecting impressive non-conference wins.
We don't want to put down our league, but facts are facts - since day one here at WaP, we've said the ECAC no longer deserves to be part of a "Big Four" grouping with the WCHA, CCHA, and Hockey East. It's more college hockey's only example of a "mid-major." However, it's fair to say that, early on, there are more teams that are likely to be able to make a national splash. All five of the league's currently ranked teams have shown brushes of greatness this season. Throw St. Lawrence into that mix as well - that's half the league (and a good reason why RPI is going to probably struggle to overcome their putrid league start).
But are all six of those teams going to be there at the end? Of course not. History tells us that once the league season begins in earnest, we'll be stabbing each other in the back and bringing each other down to size. Heck, it's already beginning, just ask Cornell and St. Lawrence. In the end, the league is going to be extremely fortunate to get three teams into the tournament, and four is almost certainly out of the question. Five and six will be impossible.
So let's give credit where credit is due - the ECAC certainly does have more that its usual share of teams that could do well on a national level this season. But "leading the way?" Child, please.
Hard to argue with the math, which shows ECAC Hockey leading the way
Oh, really? Well, allow me to retort.
The argument that the ECAC "leads the way" nationally in this final season under the current structure is predicated apparently on one item alone - the league boasts the best non-conference record in the nation. That is true - the ECAC is 21-12-7 in non-conference play thus far, a national best .613. Eliminating AHA from the mix, you have a record against the "big three" of 11-8-3. Not bad at all.
Apparently, we're supposed to care that Dartmouth was #1 in the PairWise Rankings before last week's games, too.
OK, now before we start, let's be frank. We don't seek to pile on our own league here. In fact, we defend our league where we can - for example, two seasons ago when the larger college hockey world howled at the audacity of Yale claiming to be the top team in the nation (which they were for several weeks), the Bulldogs had few more fervent defenders than us.
But... seriously. Let's cut the crap.
First, the easy one. The PairWise are a complete joke in October, worthless in November, an oddity in December, intriguing in January, worth pondering in February, and vital in March. Let's see... yes, it's November.
Now, the more complex one.
This far into the early part of the season, if you want a general indication of which teams are doing well and which ones aren't, your best bet is actually... the polls. Yes, there are always a few jokers in there who don't know what they're talking about (see also whoever it was who had Union as the top team in the nation following the Dutchmen's tie with UConn, despite the existence of a Boston College team which is now 28-1 in its last 29 games). But by and large, it's good enough for its purpose this early in the season. Meaningless, of course, but at least an indicator.
And what do we have here! Five ranked ECAC teams? Inconceivable! Yes, Union, Dartmouth, Cornell, Harvard, and Quinnipiac are all ranked in the Top 20. That's a full quarter of the ranking. Heck, Hockey East only has three. But who are these teams playing outside of their own conference?
#1 BC: 1 CCHA
#2 DU: 1 Hockey East, 1 AHA
#3 UNH: 2 WCHA
#4 Minnesota: 2 CCHA, 1 AHA
Are we seeing a trend here?
#5 Miami: 2 ECAC, 2 Hockey East
Aha! Finally, a top team that has played against the ECAC. And... the final scores were Miami 3, Colgate 0 and Miami 5, Colgate 1. Way to go, Raiders. You let the whole conference down.
#6 Notre Dame: 2 Hockey East, 2 WCHA
#7 North Dakota: 1 CCHA, 2 Hockey East
#8 Union: No ranked non-conference opponents
#9 Western Michigan: 2 ECAC. 2 AHA
OK, what do we have here... oh, St. Lawrence beat WMU in overtime 4-3, then lost the next night 3-2. A split, not too shabby. But let's cut to the chase here. The ECAC is 5-5-1 against currently ranked teams. .500 isn't too bad, of course, but the only way to get there is to include Colgate's 10-3 win over now-#20 Niagara, and we aren't really seeking to compare the ECAC to Atlantic Hockey are we?
Cornell's sweep of Colorado College is about the only real noteworthy event for the league in nonconference play thus far. It's the only matchup that has taken place all season between a ranked ECAC team and another team that's ranked. And now they're being jumped in league play so far. The other four ranked ECAC teams? Their non-conference resumes don't include a single ranked team to date.
St. Lawrence's overtime win over Western Michigan probably ranks as the league's non-conference victory of the year - it is the only time an ECAC team has beaten a team in the Top 10 with the exception of Dartmouth's win over Union in league play.
The bottom line is that the ECAC may be doing well outside the conference, but the majority of the success is coming against the middle and bottom third of the national strata, and the league's standard-bearers aren't exactly collecting impressive non-conference wins.
We don't want to put down our league, but facts are facts - since day one here at WaP, we've said the ECAC no longer deserves to be part of a "Big Four" grouping with the WCHA, CCHA, and Hockey East. It's more college hockey's only example of a "mid-major." However, it's fair to say that, early on, there are more teams that are likely to be able to make a national splash. All five of the league's currently ranked teams have shown brushes of greatness this season. Throw St. Lawrence into that mix as well - that's half the league (and a good reason why RPI is going to probably struggle to overcome their putrid league start).
But are all six of those teams going to be there at the end? Of course not. History tells us that once the league season begins in earnest, we'll be stabbing each other in the back and bringing each other down to size. Heck, it's already beginning, just ask Cornell and St. Lawrence. In the end, the league is going to be extremely fortunate to get three teams into the tournament, and four is almost certainly out of the question. Five and six will be impossible.
So let's give credit where credit is due - the ECAC certainly does have more that its usual share of teams that could do well on a national level this season. But "leading the way?" Child, please.
Monday, November 19, 2012
Men's Hockey - Mercyhurst (16/17 Nov)
A turnaround was practically a necessity for the Engineers heading into a home non-conference weekend series against Mercyhurst, and with luck, that's exactly what they gained. RPI pulled off its first home weekend sweep since January 2011 and its first home non-conference sweep since October 2010 with 4-2 and 4-1 victories over Atlantic Hockey's Mercyhurst, a result that probably is not a cure-all but certainly helped to stop the bleeding from three consecutive weekends of bad results for the Engineers.
Friday
Neal-Laliberte-Haggerty
Higgs-Miller-Lee
Zalewski-McGowan-Bubela
Fulton-O'Grady-Burgdoerfer
Leonard-Bailen
Leboeuf-Bokenfohr
Curadi-Hampton
Upcoming games
30 Nov - Princeton
1 Dec - #18 Quinnipiac
7 Dec - at Yale
8 Dec - at Brown
27 Dec - at #12 St. Cloud State
Friday
Neal-Laliberte-Haggerty
Higgs-Miller-Lee
Zalewski-McGowan-Bubela
Fulton-O'Grady-Burgdoerfer
Leonard-Bailen
Leboeuf-Bokenfohr
Curadi-Hampton
Merriam
With Jacob Laliberte's return from injury and a "message received" return to the lineup by several regular starters, RPI's starting lineup looked much more impressive than it had in its last outing against Harvard. Laliberte and Ryan Haggerty specifically returned to reunite the "NHL line," RPI's top scoring line this year.
Milos Bubela got things going six minutes into the game with his second career goal, snapping RPI's scoreless stretch of 138:26 dating back to, interestingly enough, Bubela's first career goal, which was against Union in Schenectady. Craig Bokenfohr picked up his first collegiate point with an assist on the play, which put the Engineers ahead 1-0. Bubela redirected Bokenfohr's initial blast from the blueline into the net.
Nick Bailen notched his third tally of the year about four minutes later to put RPI up 2-0 by ripping a shot from the top of the slot that beat the goaltender on the stick side. All was looking pretty rosy for the Engineers at that point.
Unfortunately, the offense seemed to go into hibernation for the next 30 minutes or so. RPI mustered just 16 shots on goal in the game's first two periods, failing to score on any of five shots in the second despite two power play opportunities. Fortunately, Bryce Merriam continued his strong play in net for RPI, carrying over from a good showing at Harvard with 14 saves in the first 40 minutes.
Three minutes into the third period, some good stickwork behind the net by Mike Zalewski ended with the freshman registering his first point. Zalewski dished the puck quickly to Mark McGowan in front of the net, who one-timed it to the back of the net before his defender could react, giving RPI their first 3-0 lead of the season. Luke Curadi picked up the secondary assist, which was also his first collegiate point.
Mercyhurst didn't just roll over and play dead, however. In all, they put 15 shots on Merriam in the final period, including two in a span of 4:23 that eluded him, making it a 3-2 contest with nine and a half minutes left to play. The first Laker goal came on a power play that started with a somewhat dubious hooking call against Bubela, the second was a shorthanded goal off a too many men penalty against Mercyhurst, marking the third time in four games that the RPI power play had given up a shorthanded goal.
The Lakers pushed hard late for the tying goal, but Merriam stayed up to the task until an iffy cross-checking call against Mercyhurst with 1:45 remaining in regulation basically doomed their chances of tying the game. The Engineers deftly spent much of the power play's first minute simply playing keepaway in the Mercyhurst end, but Bailen eventually found a shooting lane at the top of the right faceoff circle and put a wrister into the back of the net, providing RPI with a little extra insurance and a 4-2 final score. The win snapped a five-game losing streak and a seven-game winless streak for the Engineers dating back to the first week of the season.
The one downside for the Engineers was the loss of C.J. Lee to injury at the end of the second period. Lee tried to make a check in the RPI zone, but hit the boards hard on his back instead. He favored his left leg as he was helped off the ice, he did not return to the game.
Saturday
Neal-Laliberte-Haggerty
Higgs-Miller-Tinordi
Zalewski-McGowan-Bubela
Fulton-O'Grady-Burgdoerfer
Leonard-Bailen
Leboeuf-Bradley
Curadi-Hampton
With Jacob Laliberte's return from injury and a "message received" return to the lineup by several regular starters, RPI's starting lineup looked much more impressive than it had in its last outing against Harvard. Laliberte and Ryan Haggerty specifically returned to reunite the "NHL line," RPI's top scoring line this year.
Milos Bubela got things going six minutes into the game with his second career goal, snapping RPI's scoreless stretch of 138:26 dating back to, interestingly enough, Bubela's first career goal, which was against Union in Schenectady. Craig Bokenfohr picked up his first collegiate point with an assist on the play, which put the Engineers ahead 1-0. Bubela redirected Bokenfohr's initial blast from the blueline into the net.
Nick Bailen notched his third tally of the year about four minutes later to put RPI up 2-0 by ripping a shot from the top of the slot that beat the goaltender on the stick side. All was looking pretty rosy for the Engineers at that point.
Unfortunately, the offense seemed to go into hibernation for the next 30 minutes or so. RPI mustered just 16 shots on goal in the game's first two periods, failing to score on any of five shots in the second despite two power play opportunities. Fortunately, Bryce Merriam continued his strong play in net for RPI, carrying over from a good showing at Harvard with 14 saves in the first 40 minutes.
Three minutes into the third period, some good stickwork behind the net by Mike Zalewski ended with the freshman registering his first point. Zalewski dished the puck quickly to Mark McGowan in front of the net, who one-timed it to the back of the net before his defender could react, giving RPI their first 3-0 lead of the season. Luke Curadi picked up the secondary assist, which was also his first collegiate point.
Mercyhurst didn't just roll over and play dead, however. In all, they put 15 shots on Merriam in the final period, including two in a span of 4:23 that eluded him, making it a 3-2 contest with nine and a half minutes left to play. The first Laker goal came on a power play that started with a somewhat dubious hooking call against Bubela, the second was a shorthanded goal off a too many men penalty against Mercyhurst, marking the third time in four games that the RPI power play had given up a shorthanded goal.
The Lakers pushed hard late for the tying goal, but Merriam stayed up to the task until an iffy cross-checking call against Mercyhurst with 1:45 remaining in regulation basically doomed their chances of tying the game. The Engineers deftly spent much of the power play's first minute simply playing keepaway in the Mercyhurst end, but Bailen eventually found a shooting lane at the top of the right faceoff circle and put a wrister into the back of the net, providing RPI with a little extra insurance and a 4-2 final score. The win snapped a five-game losing streak and a seven-game winless streak for the Engineers dating back to the first week of the season.
The one downside for the Engineers was the loss of C.J. Lee to injury at the end of the second period. Lee tried to make a check in the RPI zone, but hit the boards hard on his back instead. He favored his left leg as he was helped off the ice, he did not return to the game.
Saturday
Neal-Laliberte-Haggerty
Higgs-Miller-Tinordi
Zalewski-McGowan-Bubela
Fulton-O'Grady-Burgdoerfer
Leonard-Bailen
Leboeuf-Bradley
Curadi-Hampton
Kasdorf
Lee's injury forced Matt Tinordi back into the lineup, taking the captain's place on the second line after he was unable to skate in the warmups - this was a game-time decision. Tinordi appeared likely to return to the lineup anyway, Greg Burgdoerfer was listed as the extra skater on the lineup sheet and simply returned to his place on the fourth line when Lee couldn't go.
Although Scott Diebold had been listed on the sheet as the likely starter, word came down early that freshman Jason Kasdorf would get his first collegiate start instead, giving the Houston Field House crowd their first real-game look at the Engineers' lone NHL draft pick.
RPI completely dominated pretty much every facet of the game in the first period on Saturday, outshooting Mercyhurst 12-3 in the opening 20 minutes. They were assisted by two almost back-to-back power play chances midway through the period, but they were unable to break onto the board.
A boarding call on Bubela six minutes into the second period changed the face of the game completely. While the Lakers had been continuing to trail RPI in shots significantly up to that point, the Mercyhurst power play unloaded an outright barrage on Kasdorf, eventually scoring on a poor defensive showing by the RPI penalty kill to go up 1-0 and practically even the shot output for the game.
Things threatened to get worse minutes later as a RPI turnover on the power play led to a breakaway for the Lakers, but Kasdorf came up with a huge save to preserve the one-goal deficit and keep the Engineers from giving up yet another shorthanded goal.
Just two minutes after the RPI power play opportunity expired, Bailen set up the Engineers' first goal by carrying the puck into the zone and behind the net before dishing it to Mark Miller in front, setting up the freshman's first collegiate goal, which knotted the game at one.
The Engineers would pull ahead early in the third period with Jacob Laliberte's team-leading fifth goal of the season. The sophomore picked up a beautiful pass from Bailen to the Mercyhurst goaltender's left and slammed it home to put RPI up 2-1. Minutes later, a second effort by Greg Burgdoerfer after a wraparound attempt hit paydirt, giving the senior his first goal of the year and putting RPI up 3-1.
Again, Mercyhurst refused to die, eventually putting up a total of 13 shots on RPI's freshman goaltender, but he was equal to the task, sucking up a number of shots that might have otherwise led to rebounds on his way to a 30-save night and his first collegiate win. Marty O'Grady would hit his first goal of the year on an empty-netter with 1:10 left to produce the final 4-1 score.
The back-to-back victories were the first for RPI since they closed out the ECAC regular season with a shocking road sweep at Colgate and Cornell back in February (and extended to three games with a win in Game 1 of the ECAC First Round against Clarkson).
Lee's injury forced Matt Tinordi back into the lineup, taking the captain's place on the second line after he was unable to skate in the warmups - this was a game-time decision. Tinordi appeared likely to return to the lineup anyway, Greg Burgdoerfer was listed as the extra skater on the lineup sheet and simply returned to his place on the fourth line when Lee couldn't go.
Although Scott Diebold had been listed on the sheet as the likely starter, word came down early that freshman Jason Kasdorf would get his first collegiate start instead, giving the Houston Field House crowd their first real-game look at the Engineers' lone NHL draft pick.
RPI completely dominated pretty much every facet of the game in the first period on Saturday, outshooting Mercyhurst 12-3 in the opening 20 minutes. They were assisted by two almost back-to-back power play chances midway through the period, but they were unable to break onto the board.
A boarding call on Bubela six minutes into the second period changed the face of the game completely. While the Lakers had been continuing to trail RPI in shots significantly up to that point, the Mercyhurst power play unloaded an outright barrage on Kasdorf, eventually scoring on a poor defensive showing by the RPI penalty kill to go up 1-0 and practically even the shot output for the game.
Things threatened to get worse minutes later as a RPI turnover on the power play led to a breakaway for the Lakers, but Kasdorf came up with a huge save to preserve the one-goal deficit and keep the Engineers from giving up yet another shorthanded goal.
Just two minutes after the RPI power play opportunity expired, Bailen set up the Engineers' first goal by carrying the puck into the zone and behind the net before dishing it to Mark Miller in front, setting up the freshman's first collegiate goal, which knotted the game at one.
The Engineers would pull ahead early in the third period with Jacob Laliberte's team-leading fifth goal of the season. The sophomore picked up a beautiful pass from Bailen to the Mercyhurst goaltender's left and slammed it home to put RPI up 2-1. Minutes later, a second effort by Greg Burgdoerfer after a wraparound attempt hit paydirt, giving the senior his first goal of the year and putting RPI up 3-1.
Again, Mercyhurst refused to die, eventually putting up a total of 13 shots on RPI's freshman goaltender, but he was equal to the task, sucking up a number of shots that might have otherwise led to rebounds on his way to a 30-save night and his first collegiate win. Marty O'Grady would hit his first goal of the year on an empty-netter with 1:10 left to produce the final 4-1 score.
The back-to-back victories were the first for RPI since they closed out the ECAC regular season with a shocking road sweep at Colgate and Cornell back in February (and extended to three games with a win in Game 1 of the ECAC First Round against Clarkson).
Other junk - Ranked teams in the ECAC this week include #8 Union (idle, down one), #11 Dartmouth (lost to Colgate and tied Cornell, up one), #13 Cornell (lost to Harvard and tied Dartmouth, down three), #17 Harvard (beat Cornell and lost to Colgate, no change), and #18 Quinnipiac (swept Clarkson/SLU, previously unranked). Also receiving votes were Yale (66), St. Lawrence (57) and Colgate (1). Other ranked opponents on the RPI schedule include #3 New Hampshire (up two, one first place vote), #10 Boston University (up one), #12 St. Cloud State (up three), and #16 Ferris State (up four). Minnesota State received one vote.
Cornell is off to a horrendous start in ECAC play. They lost four ECAC games all last season, they have already lost three just six games into this year's schedule.
The ranks of the ironmen continue to fall as C.J. Lee was sidelined by injury on Saturday, leaving Matt Neal, Nick Bailen, Brock Higgs, Mark Miller, Guy Leboeuf, and Milos Bubela as the only players on the roster who have seen ice time in all 10 games this season. All but two players on the roster have played in at least three games this season, Andrew Commers is the only one who has appeared just once and Jason Kasdorf the only one who has appeared just twice.
Zach Schroeder has missed four consecutive games with injuries, Ken Schott of the Daily Gazette reports that junior Johnny Rogic is also sidelined due to injury.
Jacob Laliberte remains near the top of the national race in scoring, he has 11 points in 8 games for a 1.38 points per game average, tying him for 11th in the nation alongside Dartmouth's Eric Robinson.
With three power play goals on the season, Nick Bailen is tied for 9th in the nation - the eight players ahead of him are tied for first with four. His nine points in 10 games has him tied for 11th in the nation in scoring among defensemen.
The defense has rebounded a bit, but is still down in the national doldrums, at a 3.20 GAA, RPI is tied for 48th in the nation out of 59 teams.
The Engineers have their second bye weekend of the still-fairly-young season coming up for Thanksgiving weekend, but their next two weekends will be key going forward, as they face four more ECAC games before the New Year. They've found ways to win against Mercyhurst, now they have to find a way to handle the somehow-always-monstrous-in-Troy Princeton Tigers on the last day of November before tangling with the as-yet-undefeated-in-the-ECAC Quinnipiac Bobcats on the first day of December. Then they hit the road to take on Yale and Brown. Points are a must, because the Engineers are the only team left in the league without any. In two weeks' time, we'll find out if this is a team that has a shot at the middle of the ECAC table, or whether it's going to be another scrape-and-claw for home ice in the first round season.
ECAC Standings
1. Dartmouth - 9 points (4-1-1)
2. Quinnipiac - 8 points (4-0-0)
3. Union - 6 points (3-1-0)
4. Harvard - 6 points (3-3-0)
5. Clarkson - 5 points (2-1-1, +3 GD)
6. Princeton - 5 points (2-1-1, +1 GD)
7. Colgate - 5 points (2-3-1)
8. Yale - 4 points (2-2-0)
9. Cornell - 4 points (1-3-2)
10. Brown - 2 points (0-2-2, -2 GD)
11. St. Lawrence - 2 points (0-2-2, -6 GD)
12. RPI - 0 points (0-4-0)
Mercyhurst at RPI
Non-Conference Game - Houston Field House (Troy, NY)
11/16/12 - 7:05pm
RESULT: RPI 4, Mercyhurst 2
BOX SCORES
Cornell is off to a horrendous start in ECAC play. They lost four ECAC games all last season, they have already lost three just six games into this year's schedule.
The ranks of the ironmen continue to fall as C.J. Lee was sidelined by injury on Saturday, leaving Matt Neal, Nick Bailen, Brock Higgs, Mark Miller, Guy Leboeuf, and Milos Bubela as the only players on the roster who have seen ice time in all 10 games this season. All but two players on the roster have played in at least three games this season, Andrew Commers is the only one who has appeared just once and Jason Kasdorf the only one who has appeared just twice.
Zach Schroeder has missed four consecutive games with injuries, Ken Schott of the Daily Gazette reports that junior Johnny Rogic is also sidelined due to injury.
Jacob Laliberte remains near the top of the national race in scoring, he has 11 points in 8 games for a 1.38 points per game average, tying him for 11th in the nation alongside Dartmouth's Eric Robinson.
With three power play goals on the season, Nick Bailen is tied for 9th in the nation - the eight players ahead of him are tied for first with four. His nine points in 10 games has him tied for 11th in the nation in scoring among defensemen.
The defense has rebounded a bit, but is still down in the national doldrums, at a 3.20 GAA, RPI is tied for 48th in the nation out of 59 teams.
The Engineers have their second bye weekend of the still-fairly-young season coming up for Thanksgiving weekend, but their next two weekends will be key going forward, as they face four more ECAC games before the New Year. They've found ways to win against Mercyhurst, now they have to find a way to handle the somehow-always-monstrous-in-Troy Princeton Tigers on the last day of November before tangling with the as-yet-undefeated-in-the-ECAC Quinnipiac Bobcats on the first day of December. Then they hit the road to take on Yale and Brown. Points are a must, because the Engineers are the only team left in the league without any. In two weeks' time, we'll find out if this is a team that has a shot at the middle of the ECAC table, or whether it's going to be another scrape-and-claw for home ice in the first round season.
ECAC Standings
1. Dartmouth - 9 points (4-1-1)
2. Quinnipiac - 8 points (4-0-0)
3. Union - 6 points (3-1-0)
4. Harvard - 6 points (3-3-0)
5. Clarkson - 5 points (2-1-1, +3 GD)
6. Princeton - 5 points (2-1-1, +1 GD)
7. Colgate - 5 points (2-3-1)
8. Yale - 4 points (2-2-0)
9. Cornell - 4 points (1-3-2)
10. Brown - 2 points (0-2-2, -2 GD)
11. St. Lawrence - 2 points (0-2-2, -6 GD)
12. RPI - 0 points (0-4-0)
Mercyhurst at RPI
Non-Conference Game - Houston Field House (Troy, NY)
11/16/12 - 7:05pm
RESULT: RPI 4, Mercyhurst 2
BOX SCORES
College Hockey Stats
USCHO
RECAPS
RPI
Troy Record
Albany Times Union
Erie Times-News
RECORD: 2-5-2 (0-4-0 ECAC)
USCHO
RECAPS
RPI
Troy Record
Albany Times Union
Erie Times-News
RECORD: 2-5-2 (0-4-0 ECAC)
Mercyhurst at RPI
Non-Conference Game - Houston Field House (Troy, NY)
11/17/12 - 7:00pm
RESULT: RPI 4, Mercyhurst 1
BOX SCORES
Non-Conference Game - Houston Field House (Troy, NY)
11/17/12 - 7:00pm
RESULT: RPI 4, Mercyhurst 1
BOX SCORES
RECORD: 3-5-2 (0-4-0 ECAC)
Upcoming games
30 Nov - Princeton
1 Dec - #18 Quinnipiac
7 Dec - at Yale
8 Dec - at Brown
27 Dec - at #12 St. Cloud State
Women's Hockey - Robert Morris (16/17 Nov)
In the first of two weekends of non-conference play on either side of Thanksgiving, the Engineers welcomed the Colonials of Robert Morris University to Houston Field House.
After an unlikely upset of Mercyhurst to win the CHA tournament last season, RMU had jumped out to a 5-2-1 record following four exhibition wins (albeit against mostly weaker competition), and they got the better of the Engineers on the weekend, taking a 3-2 Friday victory before skating to a 1-1 tie on Saturday.
Friday
Wash/Gruschow/Horton
Smelker/Cox/Svoboda
Sanders/Mahoney/Mari Mankey
Letuligasenoa/Padmore/Walsh
Le Donne/Schilter
Godin/Marzario
Daniels/Banks
O'Brien
An extra attacker goal late in the third period drew RPI to within one, but it was too little, too late as the Engineers dropped a 3-2 decision to Robert Morris in an early game Friday afternoon.
RMU opened the scoring at 8:31 of the first period, with Maddie Collias picking up the goal by crashing the net while the puck was fired from the near side boards.
The initial RMU lead was short-lived as Taylor Horton evened it up two minutes later, splitting the defense before beating RMU goalie Kristen DiCiocco glove side to make it 1-1.
A parade to the penalty box dictated the pace of the second period, with five penalties on the Colonials and three on the Engineers, but is was only RMU able to score on one of their opportunities. Just seconds past the midpoint of the second, Thea Imbrogno was able to sneak one past Kelly O'Brien with a crowd in front of the crease to make it a 2-1 game.
Cobina Delaney extended RMU's lead to 3-1 with a breakaway goal in the waning minutes of the third period and it looked to have put the game on ice, but Alexa Gruschow picked up her eighth goal of the season at 19:39 when a late power play coupled with the extra attacker had the Engineers skating 6-on-4.
Unfortunately for RPI, 21 seconds was not enough to set up another possession and push for another goal, and the 3-2 score held up for RMU in game one.
Saturday
Wash/Gruschow/Horton
Smelker/Cox/Svoboda
Sanders/Mahoney/Mari Mankey
Letuligasenoa/Padmore/Walsh
Daniels/Marzario
Le Donne/Banks
Jakubowski/Schilter
O'Brien
A dominant first period and strong third period showed a lot of promise for an RPI squad that's had a tough go of it early in the season, but an RPI goal in the game's opening minutes was matched by one for RMU in the game's final minutes resulting in a 1-1 tie on Saturday afternoon.
It was only 1:12 into the game on Saturday when Jordan Smelker forced home a rebound to give the Engineers an important early lead, and the Engineers proceeded to lay on the pressure for the remainder of the first period. While the puck spent most of the period in the RMU zone, it notably did not find its way into the back of the net, and RPI entered the intermission only ahead by one.
The second period was nearly a complete role reversal, with RMU racking up a 10-3 shot advantage and thoroughly dominating the puck possession game, but fortunately for the Engineers, O'Brien held the visitors off the board during the onslaught, including a pair of great saves on a 2-on-1 opportunity for RMU.
The 1-0 RPI lead held through most of the third, with RPI going back to some of the play that benefited them in the opening frame, but as luck would have it, RPI surrendered the tying goal with less than five minutes after O'Brien made a great save on an RMU shot but wasn't able to get to the rebound before Kelsey Thomas put it home.
A late power play opportunity for RPI in the third, as well as one for RMU in overtime went by with out another goal, and the 1-1 score held up. It was a game the Engineers could have won, but at the same time, a tie was an improvement over the one-goal losses that have been piling up for the Engineers.
In other news, the Engineers finally hired a second assistant coach to replace Collette Youlen, who left during the offseason. Melanie Greene, Vermont '10 was behind the bench this weekend and it was nice to see a full complement of staff behind the bench once again.
RPI travels to Syracuse next weekend for a non-conference pair against the Orange before returning to ECAC play with a pair at Quinnipiac and Princeton the following weekend. Game times are 7pm Friday and 4pm Saturday for both series.
-----
RPI vs. Robert Morris
Non-Conference Game – Houston Field House (Troy, NY)
11/16/12 - 3pm
RMU 3, RPI 2
BOX SCORES:
USCHO: http://www.uscho.com/box/womens-hockey/2012/11/16/robert-morris-vs-rensselaer/
College Hockey Stats: http://collegehockeystats.net/1213/boxes/wrenrmu1.n16
RECAPS:
RPI: http://www.rpiathletics.com/news/2012/11/16/WICE_1116124126.aspx
RMU: http://www.rmucolonials.com/ViewArticle.dbml?ATCLID=205745650
Video Highlights: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sB909LY4PvY
RECORD: 2-8-1 (0-4-0 ECAC)
-----
RPI vs. Robert Morris
Non-Conference Game – Houston Field House (Troy, NY)
11/17/12 - 3pm
RPI 1, RMU 1 (OT)
BOX SCORES:
USCHO: http://www.uscho.com/box/womens-hockey/2012/11/17/robert-morris-vs-rensselaer/
College Hockey Stats: http://collegehockeystats.net/1213/boxes/wrenrmu1.n17
RECAPS:
RPI: http://www.rpiathletics.com/news/2012/11/17/WICE_1117122333.aspx
RMU: http://www.rmucolonials.com/ViewArticle.dbml?ATCLID=205747623
Video Highlights: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sPf1mxn5WWc
Complete Game Video: http://rpitv.org/productions/512-womens-hockey-vs-robert-morris-game-2
RECORD: 2-8-2 (0-4-0 ECAC)
-----
ECAC Standings
1t. Cornell - 12 points (6-0-0)
1t. Clarkson - 12 points (6-0-0)
3. St. Lawrence - 10 points (5-1-0)
4. Quinnipiac - 9 points (4-3-1)
5. Harvard - 8 points (4-0-0)
6. Dartmouth - 6 points (3-1-0)
7. Princeton - 4 points (1-5-2)
8t. Union - 2 points (0-2-2)
8t. Brown - 2 points (1-5-0)
8t. Yale - 2 points (0-5-1)
11. Colgate - 1 point (0-5-1)
12. RPI - 0 points (0-4-0)
-----
Upcoming Games
Nov. 23 - at Syracuse (7pm)
Nov. 24 - at Syracuse (4pm)
Nov. 30 - at Quinnipiac (7pm)
Dec. 1 - at Princeton (4pm)
Friday, November 16, 2012
Have Mercy
It's a full weekend of college hockey at Houston Field House this weekend as both the men and the women have a pair of games for you to feast your eyes on tonight and tomorrow. Translation: get thyself to Troy.
Both teams are in a bad way right now - the men, perhaps, a little more than the women. Both have now started off their ECAC schedules with an 0-4-0 record, the women with a -6 goal differential (three of the losses were one goal games) and the men with... a -14 goal differential. Remember, that is in four games, the last three of which were four goal losses. Both are the only teams in the ECAC with no points.
Unfortunately, none of that is set to change this weekend, as both teams are playing a non-conference series, but it does give both sides the opportunity to get things right before heading back out on the hunt for points.
The ladies will take to this ice this afternoon and tomorrow afternoon (3pm starts for both) against College Hockey America's Robert Morris (5-2-1). The Engineers have a few opponents in common with the Colonials, but it's hard to draw much from it - both teams beat Vermont (RMU doing it twice) and both lost to BU, though RMU was able to pull out a tie with Northeastern while RPI lost.
Similarity reigns on the men's side as they battle Atlantic Hockey's Mercyhurst (3-2-1). In this case, it's just Ferris State as a mutual opponent, the Lakers lost and tied with the Bulldogs a week after RPI beat and tied them. They're not quite pushovers, as they went into RIT last week and pulled out a win in a tough barn, besides, it's not like the Engineers are playing well enough lately to take anyone for granted.
It's deja vu around here... the men and women opened last season going a combined 2-7-2 in league play by this point last year, but it's pretty obvious that 0-8-0 is even worse. At any rate, here's a song you can tap your foot to and get the weekend off to the right start, even while it sort of describes the current situation on the hill.
BTW, all four games this weekend are on WRPI... so if you can't be there, be sure to tune in.
Both teams are in a bad way right now - the men, perhaps, a little more than the women. Both have now started off their ECAC schedules with an 0-4-0 record, the women with a -6 goal differential (three of the losses were one goal games) and the men with... a -14 goal differential. Remember, that is in four games, the last three of which were four goal losses. Both are the only teams in the ECAC with no points.
Unfortunately, none of that is set to change this weekend, as both teams are playing a non-conference series, but it does give both sides the opportunity to get things right before heading back out on the hunt for points.
The ladies will take to this ice this afternoon and tomorrow afternoon (3pm starts for both) against College Hockey America's Robert Morris (5-2-1). The Engineers have a few opponents in common with the Colonials, but it's hard to draw much from it - both teams beat Vermont (RMU doing it twice) and both lost to BU, though RMU was able to pull out a tie with Northeastern while RPI lost.
Similarity reigns on the men's side as they battle Atlantic Hockey's Mercyhurst (3-2-1). In this case, it's just Ferris State as a mutual opponent, the Lakers lost and tied with the Bulldogs a week after RPI beat and tied them. They're not quite pushovers, as they went into RIT last week and pulled out a win in a tough barn, besides, it's not like the Engineers are playing well enough lately to take anyone for granted.
It's deja vu around here... the men and women opened last season going a combined 2-7-2 in league play by this point last year, but it's pretty obvious that 0-8-0 is even worse. At any rate, here's a song you can tap your foot to and get the weekend off to the right start, even while it sort of describes the current situation on the hill.
BTW, all four games this weekend are on WRPI... so if you can't be there, be sure to tune in.
Wednesday, November 14, 2012
Immortality
College hockey players have been a part of the Hockey Hall of Fame since its first induction class in 1945: the first player alphabetically in that first class was Hobey Baker, a man who needs no introduction.
But with the notable exception of Cornell's Ken Dryden in 1983, the ranks of the Hall of Fame were largely closed to NCAA alumni, and for good reason - there just wasn't much talent that came from college.
The dam began to burst in 2000 with the induction of Boston College's Joe Mullen, but it wasn't until 2009, when Minnesota-Duluth's Brett Hull and Boston College's Brian Leetch were inducted in the same year that the true impact of college hockey's renaissance that started in the mid-1980s began to truly be noticed in the ranks of the legendary. Then in 2011, Cornell's Joe Nieuwendyk and North Dakota'a Ed Belfour added to the list.
This week, four more names were added to those of the greatest players to ever suit up. Of the four, one was a name that will never be forgotten in Troy: Adam Oates.
When he came to RPI, Adam Oates was not the odds-on favorite to be one day standing in Toronto and speaking about his career. Three years later, he was the cornerstone of a national championship winning team, propelling the Engineers to a second national championship, making the school one of the few which can claim multiple titles in multiple eras of the game.
On that long night in Detroit, it's unlikely anyone could have guessed that they were, in addition to watching the reigning Hobey Baker Award winner, were watching two men who would one day be inducted into the Hall of Fame, eventually linked not only by the epic battle that took place that night, but three years of mutually beneficial service together in St. Louis.
It may not have happened as soon as most RPI partisans would have preferred, but the day is finally here. Adam Oates is where he belongs - one of the greatest players in school history developed into one of the greatest playmakers in NHL history, and now, his name is written among the greats. Of the millions who have ever grabbed a stick and started playing, he is one of only 255 recognized as one of the best to play the game.
Congratulations, Mr. Oates.
But with the notable exception of Cornell's Ken Dryden in 1983, the ranks of the Hall of Fame were largely closed to NCAA alumni, and for good reason - there just wasn't much talent that came from college.
The dam began to burst in 2000 with the induction of Boston College's Joe Mullen, but it wasn't until 2009, when Minnesota-Duluth's Brett Hull and Boston College's Brian Leetch were inducted in the same year that the true impact of college hockey's renaissance that started in the mid-1980s began to truly be noticed in the ranks of the legendary. Then in 2011, Cornell's Joe Nieuwendyk and North Dakota'a Ed Belfour added to the list.
This week, four more names were added to those of the greatest players to ever suit up. Of the four, one was a name that will never be forgotten in Troy: Adam Oates.
When he came to RPI, Adam Oates was not the odds-on favorite to be one day standing in Toronto and speaking about his career. Three years later, he was the cornerstone of a national championship winning team, propelling the Engineers to a second national championship, making the school one of the few which can claim multiple titles in multiple eras of the game.
On that long night in Detroit, it's unlikely anyone could have guessed that they were, in addition to watching the reigning Hobey Baker Award winner, were watching two men who would one day be inducted into the Hall of Fame, eventually linked not only by the epic battle that took place that night, but three years of mutually beneficial service together in St. Louis.
It may not have happened as soon as most RPI partisans would have preferred, but the day is finally here. Adam Oates is where he belongs - one of the greatest players in school history developed into one of the greatest playmakers in NHL history, and now, his name is written among the greats. Of the millions who have ever grabbed a stick and started playing, he is one of only 255 recognized as one of the best to play the game.
Congratulations, Mr. Oates.
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