The match-up that every Engineer fan dreaded the most has now been
realized--Union vs. RPI at the Fieldhouse.  The way that the Dutchman grab
fifth place though has to hurt.  With 45 seconds left in a stirring stand
at Princeton Jason Moi and Co. run down the playoff match-ups stating
what seemed to be correct: whoever wins the game gains home ice and faces
the other next weekend.  But wait!  Union wins with under a minute left on
a...huh? empty net goal.  Good strategy by Tim Taylor to go for home ice
in the play-down round.  Very bad turn of events for the Engineers.
 
Union thus gains as good a match-up as it could ask for: RPI, a team they
have battled thru three games to a virtual standstill (1-1-1) at an arena
that has become as friendly to the visitors as the home team, only ten
miles from their own campus.  The same thing happened in 1994 of course,
but that was a green team that was experiencing post-season play really
for the first time.  This year's edition features a goalie who is arguably
the best in the nation, playing behind a team that has one of the best
records in hockey over the last ten games.  So who is the underdog in this
series?
 
Oh, and one other thing, their coach should receive Coach of the Year.
His main competition, RPI's Dan Fridgen, faltered a bit down the stretch.
Stan Moore, in contrast, put his team on a tear following the RPI series,
that propelled them to a lofty fifth place finish in the ECAC.  Granted
Mike Shafer is also deserving, but I cannot imagine how anyone could vote
for anyone other than Moore after the job he has done this year.
 
It should be a great series regardless, especially for the Dutchman fans.
And if this doesn't fill up the Houston Fieldhouse , nothing will.
*******************************************************************************
Brian Morris                        RPI Engineers--Big and Nasty
[log in to unmask]
 
HOCKEY-L is for discussion of college ice hockey;  send information to
[log in to unmask], The College Hockey Information List.