Thanks to Kurt for posting a full box to info-l, saving me a bit
of time, I'll just do the summary since there's really no reason what so
ever for an RPI fan to actually want to look back at tonight's game.
Sal Managanaro had a hat-trick and Rob Bonneau had four assists
as UMass ran over RPI tonight at the lovely Houston Field House (more later).
After a shaky opening (which saw UMass get two too many men
penalties) UMass took charge of the game midway through the first and
cruised to the win. The Minutemen are now, gasp, 8-6 on the year, 2-1
against ECAC teams, the sole blemmish being and OT loss to Vermont. UMass
will try to make it 3-1 Sunday at Princeton.
The telling stat tonight was the power play where RPI was 0 for
11, while UMass converted 2 of 8. RPI's goAl did come shorthanded with
:14 to play in the second, the first shorthanded goal UMass has allowed
this year.
Brian Regan was sharp in the net for UMass making 35 saves on the
night. Mike Tamburro saved 19 of 24 through 2 periods before being pulled
before the third.
Warren Norris scored at 14:45 of the first on a 4x4 give-and-go with
Tom O'Connor, and Manganaro scored on the same 4x4 at 16:10 to give UMass
a 2-0 lead after one.
Mike Evans and Norris scored at 7:27 and 9:29 of the second to
extend the UMass lead to 4-0, and Manganaro made it 5-0 on a 5x3 at 19:37
of the second on a 50 foot slapper that a frustrated Tamburro "olayed"
ala Roger Dorn in the movie Major League.
RPI got its goal at 19:46as Dan Riva put a shot under a sliding Regan.
Manganaro completed his hat-trick on a power play at :45 of the third,
as backup goalie Bryan Masotta kept UMass in check from there. RPI
outshot UMass 12-6 in the third.
NOTES ON A FIRST TRIP TO TROY:
I had long heard of the Houston Field House, and I finally got to
se it tonight and suffice to say I was hardly disappointed. IN the 1920's
when they envisioned a hockey arena this is exactly what they had in
mind. I instantly loved the barn and can't wait to get back there. After
losing the grand old barn on Causeway St. to cras commercialism, you
can't imagine how happy I am to see that some hockey rink till has posts
and obstructed views, along with smoke-stained rafters and contorted
steel girders.
This is the sort of building hockey was ment to be played in, and
an added feature that many of today's more modern ECAC and one HE rink
in particular doesn't have...heat and lots of it.
The radio and coaches area is the ultimate though. Even NU's
Matthews Arena or the Gahden didn't have a vantage point quite like this!
While the height is the same, it's actually CLOSER to the ice thanthose
two. You are literally beyond the boards and directly over the ice here.
Even at those others you're 20-30 feet back, but not so here. I'm going
to have to talk our radio into coming up next time, I can only imagine
broadcasting a game from there. There's no angle like it anywhere.
Getting up there's cool too, climbing a submarine-like ladder to
a chicken-wire enclosed catwalk that runs up and over the stands. Incredible.
As for the RPI faithful I was very impressed. The crowd in front
of the press box didn't leave despite the lopsided play and cheered to
the end. The chants were unique to say the least and everyone seemed to
have a fantastic time in the 6-1 loss.
It's an incredible building and an incredible atmosphere there, I
can only imagineif the place had been full, say at the freek-out. Given
the low roof, I can only imagine how loud it gets in there. Maybe next
time we'll play there on a weekend night and find out.
It even comes down to the stupid little things. There's steps the
visiting team must decend from their locker room...The scoreboards
predate President Clinton...The unique band location and so on.
Except for that stupid bird of course, let Puckman live!
Leigh
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