Commentary on BC vs. RPI  (1/2/95)
 
Final Score:  RPI 7  BC 2
 
RPI has finally strung together three respectable games.  The game
versus Boston College was a virtual reverse of the game against Maine.
On Friday, RPI dominated early and then faded.  Tonight they
struggled early and came on strong at the end.
 
Jerry York has a great deal of rebuilding to do at BC.  Taylor looks to
be an excellent goaltender, but the defense in front of him is suspect.
Tom Ashe is a top-notch defenseman and played excellently, and his
teammates on the blueline could learn a lot from him.  But the BC
defense suffered serious mental lapses at times and were caught out of
position.  For example, Regan's short-handed goal in the third period
came from an RPI clearing pass.  The BC defense assumed RPI would
not try for the puck.  Instead, Regan came streaking in and took the
puck after it bounced off the boards and went in alone against Taylor.
The next time the puck came down to BC's end, Taylor covered it for a
whistle when he could have easily sticked it aside for a teammate.  He
was taking no chances.
 
The goal that broke the game open came from Wayne Clarke 27
seconds into the third period.  Clarke was staked out at the BC blueline
as RPI cleared it from their zone on the penalty kill.  David Wainwright
was also on the blueline, one step in front of Clarke.  I have no idea
what Wainwright was thinking, but Clarke not only received a very
long pass, but got control and took two strides for the goal before
Wainwright did anything.  Fantastic work by Clarke, falling down with
Wainwright on top of him, moving in front of Taylor and then getting a
backhand shot off, resulted in a 4-2 Engineer lead and RPI never
looked back.  Wainwright got only one more shift for the remaining
19+ minutes.
 
The game was close for the first two periods mainly because RPI was
playing below their ability.  They were almost schizophrenic at times.
Early on they were clearing the crease easily.  Then they forgot how to
do that, and BC took control of the crease at will.  They would follow
a superb power-play with a horrible one.  It was difficult to pin down
what Engineer team was in the building, until the third period.  Then
the same RPI team that played Maine in the first period on Friday took
to the ice.
 
Brian Masotta looked solid in goal.  He allowed big rebounds early in
the game, then settled down and kept the puck closer to home.  He
was hampered by an inconsistent defense for the first two periods and
did a good job.  He was replaced late in the game by Tim Spadafore, a
senior seeing his first, and probably only, action in net for RPI.
 
Masotta may be seeing more action this weekend.  Mike Tamburro
hurt himself in practice Sunday, and was limping around the Field
House.  Jayson spoke to him and Mike said he may not be ready for
this weekend's action against Colgate and Cornell.  That would mean
Masotta backed up by Spadafore.  Also, Kelly Askew hurt himself
early in the second period and did not return, and Eric Perardi took a
shot on the ankle in the third period and skated right to the locker
room.  He didn't come back either, but no updates on their conditions.
 
A crowd of only 3,355 in the Field House for this odd Monday night
game.  Almost no students, just local people, and the occasional person
who was around for the weekend and due to the holiday could stick
around on Monday night, like Ralph Slate.
 
Kurt Stutt
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