'Runners take two of three over holiday
Metro hockey club seventh in region
By Wayne Bart
bart@mscd.edu
The Metro hockey team hosted a three-game series Nov. 17-19 and went into the fall break winning two and losing one, raising its record to 9-8-0 on the season.
The 'Runners started off the weekend by beating Weber State University 6-4 on Nov. 17 at Sun Microsystems at the Promenade in Westminster.
Despite having a home game at an arena that was not their home ice, Metro came out strong. They quickly established dominance by a goal from forward Luke Lamming in the first five minutes of the first period.
Photo by Wayne Bart bart@mscd.edu
Metro goalie Casey Sherwood makes a save in a game against Weber State. Metro beat Weber 6-4 on Nov. 17 in Westminster. The Roadrunners beat Weber again the following night 7-5 in Littleton.
Metro spent most of the first period in the offensive zone, scoring two more goals, one shorthanded, before finishing the first period with a 3-0 lead.
Weber State showed some signs of life at the start of the second, scoring three minutes after getting on the ice in the second.
Metro answered that goal with two more of their own, sending a visibly frustrated Weber State team to the locker room after the second period. Metro led 5-1.
A confident Metro team appeared in the third period, underestimating the determination of the Weber State hockey club.
Weber State scored in the first 13 seconds of the third period.
Weber State continued by adding two more goals and coming within one goal of Metro, who was holding onto a 5-4 lead.
Metro went on the power play in the last two minutes of the third period, and Weber State pulled its goalie for an extra skater.
Metro put the nail in the coffin, scoring an empty net goal with one-second left in the game to win by a final score of 6-4.
Metro took on that same team on Nov. 18, this time back at the Edge Ice Arena in Littleton.
Although a higher scoring affair, Metro kept the same margin of victory, winning by two goals with a final score of 7-5. Metro improved its record to 9-7-0 on the season, and 2-0 on the weekend.
Metro wrapped up its weekend against the University of New Mexico on Nov. 19 at the Edge Ice Arena.
It was a hard-hitting, physical game that did not mesh well with a Metro team playing its third game in as many nights.
Despite the physical play, the Roadrunners jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first period; it was short-lived.
New Mexico proved to be a more difficult challenge, coming back to take away Metro's lead.
New Mexico pressed hard on offense and played solid defense and, by the end of the second period, it didn't look like Metro had a chance.
However, like previous games, Metro wasn't finished.
The 'Runners skated hard and came within reaching distance of New Mexico at 5-6, but New Mexico put one more in and Metro lost by a final of 5-7.
The Roadrunners finish out the semester on the road, first playing the University of Wyoming on Dec. 2 at the Ikon Center in Cheyenne, Wyo.
The 'Runners then head into a two-game series against the University of Colorado at the CU Recreational Center in Boulder Dec. 9 and 10.