2/2/2019: Slippery Rock University vs. West Virginia University

Over the weekend Slippery Rock men’s club ice hockey team traveled to take on West Virginia University.

 Puck drop was 4:00 p.m, with West Virginia busting out of the gates with the first goal at 1:12. The goal was scored by D.Jukus and assisted by J.Judis. After playing intensity last week vs. Oswego State, Slippery Rock started out slow. There were lots of bodies being tossed around being traded between Slippery Rock and West Virginia. The two teams combined for five penalties in the first period.

After the first-period WVU leading 1-0

T.Gilland opened the scoring for SRU at 4:33. J.Bartgholow scored the go-ahead goal at 6:03. West Virginia went on to take a two-goal lead at 15:15 when E. Keefe was assisted by T. Richardson. Slippery Rock looking to stay in the game was helped by A. Esposito goal scored at 18:29. It was not until the end of the period after a brawl on the ice that Slippery Rock started to show signs of life. After the fighting J. Bartholow and N. Mettenburg were both assessed two minutes for roughing.

 Through two periods of play, WVU 3 SRU 2

 In the third period of play, we saw a completely different game. Slippery Rock came out and dominated control of the puck after playing flat in the first two periods. West Virginia looked like they were completely gassed hitting the puck to the other end of the rink just to catch a couple second breather. There was no chemistry between the WVU players with lots of swinging and missing the puck or chasing the puck down after passes that went too far. C Miller started the third period scoring at 4:17. The team captain Tommy Kimmick gave SRU their first lead of the game at 13:07. With his second goal of the game, C. Miller put the final nail in WVU’s coffin at 16:34

Final score Slippery Rock 5 West Virginia University 3

SRU: K. Belanger 38 shots 35 saves

WVU: B. Zienty 43 shots 38 saves

Next up for Slippery Rock University is a two-game road series at Toledo. Game 1 between SRU and Toledo begins Friday 2/08 at 7:00 p.m. Then SRU and will be back at it the very next night when the puck drops in Toledo at 5:30 p.m.