+ P.S.  Last I heard, with only about a minute left, Colgate was beating #1
+ Boston University 9 to 6.
 
Well, as the above might have shown, there is probably going to be a
new number 1 when the polls get updated, since that was the final
score of Saturday's match between BU and Colgate.  [Actually, I am
quite glad that they lost this early in the season... the team is
still young and did not appear ready for all of the pressure.]
 
The key to the Colgate victory was the lack of play by the BU
goaltender Bradley.  [Cashman sat on the bench the entire game, even
after Bradley was injured during a collision at the net (he walked it
off, but still looked to be playing a little stiff after that)]
Almost all of the Colgate goals came on the first shot, more than a
few from just inside the blue line.  I have to admit that the last few
goals were helped by BU defensive errors, so the overagressiveness
shown during the first two games was also to blame.
 
The game was a particularly frustrating one for BU, since they
controlled most of the first two periods and only had a two goal lead.
The first period ended with BU up 2-1.  And the second period ended
with BU up 6-4.  The signs were already there that a collapse could
take place in the third period, as Colgate was able to hang tough due
to good goaltending, while BU's keeper had trouble stopping the long
shot.
 
Now, either Colgate will have to improve their penalty killing, or BU
doesn't have much to worry about with their power play, since they
scored on 4 out of 5 opportunities during the first two periods.
[Once with two seconds left on the penalty]   While BU gave up most of
their goals even up.  [Ack!]
 
The third period was a frustrating one, since you could sense that
Bradley was totally upset at himself and letting it get to him.  [More
than once he skated over towards the Colgate fans who were there and
started yelling at them]  Once Colgate got the lead, it was over,
since the BU team lost their cool and started taking stupid chances,
giving Colgate two goals on stupid defensive mistakes.
 
While both teams showed some big cracks in their defense, I do have to
say that Colgate definitly deserved the victory.  Their team and
goaltender were both ready to play, and BU was unable to withstand the
pressure caused by Colgate's comeback in the third period.  There was
no scoring in the last 8 to 10 minutes of the contest, even though BU
had a two man advantage within the last three minutes of the period.
[The Colgate goalie was more than up to the quick shots that BU
peppered him with in that time... not enough setup work was done,
probably due to the frustration of the game]
 
Anyway, I will try to take notes next time I go to a game, so that I
can provide full line scores instead of a general "summary".
 
Later,
 
adam
Boston University
ps. Now, hopefully, they will drop far enough in the rankings that
they will be able to play without the pressure.