In what was BY FAR the loudest game I had been to this year (I wasn't at
Opening Night, that may have been louder), UNO came back from an 0-2 1st
period deficit to tie Mankato St. 2-2. UNO's first goal came during a
delayed penalty, the original shot rebounded into the slot where
fan-favorite Andrew Tortorella (whose name will be mentioned again later)
put it over a sprawling goaltender. That was all the scoring after the 2nd.
 
The third period start with the Mavs on a 2 man advantage for 30 seconds + a
normal power play for another minute after that. Nothing really happened,
but that set a stage for a controversial UNO goal. (It was a goal, despite
what Mankato St. thought) UNO pounded the net, and the puck appeared to go
in, the arena and UNO players started celebrating, Mankato St. looked
dejected, but the green light went on (no whistle however), so a UNO player
shot it into the net uncontested, and then the ref pointed for a goal. I'm
not really sure if the orignal shot was a goal or if it was the confusion
rebound that got the goal, but it was 2-2 and that's how it ended.
 
Oh yeah, I said I'd mention Tortorella again. Sometime during the third,
Torts (remember, he's like 5'6") was being pinned agianst the boards behind
the play and sort of a little scuffle. as they were seperating, I turned to
watch the play, I suddenly hear cheers from the crowd across the arena and
the Mankato St. guy down on the ground (from my perspective, he didn't look
in pain, as he was looking straight at the ref while holding his leg) and
Torts skating away. Mankato St. wanted a penalty but got none. The guy who
went down skated off under his own (after the trainer went out) with no
limp, favoring an arm or anything, and was promptly booed for faking it (and
I thought rightly so, course I do have a biased opinion here).
 
Earlier in the game, injury prone Vic Sharma was helped off with full Rocky
music blaring with what looked like a knee injury, and I think Coach Mike
Kemp got UNO a bench minor for saying something about it, he shouted
something (couldn't make out what, but it was a loud angry shout) that I
heard up in the 3rd balcony behind him, and the ref gave a bench minor for it.
 
UNO finishes the season 12-18-3 (10-18-1 in Div I play), and also finsihed
2nd in the nation in attendance (probably behind Minnesota, but I'm not
sure). Everyone who attended the game tonight was given a team photo, and an
autograph session was held (I didn't stay for it, prolly should have though.)
 
Not one UNO player is a graduating senior (we have a couple juniors, then a
lot of froshes and sophmores), and we're hoping for no transfer losses
either, which means we could have everyone on the roster back for next
season. (oh, they mentioned before the game that UNO's average GPA was above
a 3.33, if anyone cares) There are some spots to fill, mostly at the blue
line, but our goaltending crew should all be back and is primed to lead UNO
to a .500 or better season next year.
 
It's been a helluva ride, and I hope it'll be just as fun in 7 months when
our second season kicks off when Maine visits the Bullpen that is the Civic
Auditorium.
 
I'm a little dissapointed in not going out with a win, since this was our
playoff game basically, but it's better than a loss.
 
Until next year(except for any summer announcements),
Ben F.
U!N!O! U!N!O!
 
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