For the 2nd time in 3 meetings, Div I newbie Nebraska-Omaha tied Div II
powerhouse Alabama Huntsville. The first period was uneventful, but the last
45 minutes were full of action. Things started in the second when Huntsville
got 2 goals in 7 seconds during a 4v4. UNO got one back later in the 2nd on
the power play. Tom Kowol, just this week hearing the news that he'll be
able to play the rest of this year without losing his junior eligibilty for
next year, scored his 1st of the year during what he called, "a rusty game."
In the third all hell broke loose. UNO knotted it up about 5 minutes into
the period on another power play goal, this one from Billy Pugliese getting
his team-leading 15th of the year with an assist from Kowol (maybe a 2nd
assist?). Later UNO went on the penalty kill, and about 10 seconds into the
penalty kill, James Chalmers had what appeared from my angle to be just a
solid hit(from the front), got called for a 5 minute major for hitting from
behind + a game misconduct. The crowd really got into it at this point. UNO
killed off the 1:45+ 2 man advantage, and then proceeded to kill off the
entire 5 minute major.
UNO then got a power play almost immediatly afterward. Then some Huntsville
guy got a 10-minute misconduct for something, and on his way out slammed his
stick against the boards. The ref then gave him a game-misconduct too. Then
Huntsville sent a guy onto the ice as they were about to drop the puck, and
we in the crowd thought they should get a delay of game penalty, but the ref
restrained himself. Then the linesman threw out the Huntsville face-off man.
All this happened without one tick coming off the clock.
Overtime saw UNO have most of the advantage and getting several good scoring
chances, but the game ended at 2-2.
These two teams meet again tomorrow night at the Bullpen (which the PA guy
now calls it, least it's first time I've heard him say it) that is the Omaha
Civic Auditorium.
UNO is on a 7 game unbeaten streak at 5-0-2, with both ties against Huntsville.
This was probably the best crowd noise wise at games I've been too, but
probably doesn't stack up to Opening Night and the 2nd Air Force game. I
mean, we even booed the sponsers when this little kid was doing a shot at
the net between periods and they brought out the board with the little hole
in it.
UNO is now 9-16-0 in Div 1 play, 10-16-2 in NCAA play, and 10-17-2 overall.
UNO leads the series with Huntsville 1-0-2.
Ben F.
U!N!O! U!N!O!
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