>Well, UNO led for most of the night, then gave up 2 goals in 15 seconds late
>in the third and then RIT added an empty netter to lose 5-3. No details
>tonight as I did not attend and missed most of the radio broadcast. All I
>know is that right about now I'm starting to think being a UNO fan is more
>of a curse than being a Cubs fan.
On the other hand, one could say, that at 11-0 (10-0 NCAA), RIT
continues to find ways to win.
I just got back from Omaha, and will post a full write-up later, but
just let me say that until after the second game, RIT felt they got no
respect from the UNO coaches, players, and Omaha media. Before the
series started, the papers were full of quotes from coaches and
players about what an "embarrassment" a loss would be to RIT. After
dropping the first game, Mike Kemp said that even though RIT was a
"fine team", the loss was "on paper, the low point in the history of
the UNO program." Don't think that wasn't extra motivation for RIT,
who calmly went out and won two very exciting games in front of over
6,500 the first night and 4,500 the next - small crowds for UNO but
huge for the Tigers, who beat Buffalo State Thursday night 11-1 in
front of 249 people. That's right, three games in four days.
Kemp was full of praise for RIT after the second loss and was probably
quoted out of context earlier, but it still stung.
UNO has some very talented players, including 7-8 transfers from other
D-I schools and a host of USHL all-stars. Top to bottom, they have
more talent than RIT. But they're very fragile right now and don't
know how to win. They way the Tigers took game two, trailing 3-2 with
3:54 to play and then *bangbang* getting two within 15 seconds was
just devastating.
#23 is indeed Matt Garver, who transferred from RPI and, according to
him, couldn't be happier. He's bonded to this team very well, and was
certainly part of the "circle the wagons" mentality the Tigers had in
Omaha. He got a stick to the cage at the end of game one for his
"How's that for D-III?" comment in front of the UNO bench, which
apparently had been taunting him all night. That's all the players
wanted to talk about after the game.
Chris Lerch
US College Hockey Magazine
US College Hockey Online -- www.uscollegehockey.com
Color Voice of RIT Hockey on 89.7 WITR
http://members.aol.com/chrislerch/main.html
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