Volume 28, Issue 09, October 20, 2005
sports
'Runners split ice with KU
Metro club hockey 1-1 in weekend series against Jayhawks
By Shaun Cook
scook43@mscd.edu
Saturday night, Metro men's hockey met the University of Kansas for the second time in as many nights. The Roadrunners lost to KU 8-7 in American Collegiate Hockey Association play.
Metro was coming off a three-game win streak dating back to a sweep of the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, and a 5-4 victory over the Jayhawks on Friday night.
Photo by Wayne Bart bart@mscd.edu
Metro forward Curtis Duffus moves into position for a shot in the Oct. 15 game against the University of Kansas.
Kansas struck first in the ninth minute, but Metro captain Curtis Duffus answered quickly with a goal in the sixth and then again 30 seconds later, on an assist by Ryan Callahan, giving Metro the 2-1 lead at the end of the first period.
The quick response by Metro was indicative of their upbeat offensive style inducted by coach Greg Woods, a former All-American at the University of Denver.
"I've got a system going in place here, that these guys are starting to buy in to, " Woods said between periods Saturday night. "These guys are full of guts and speed and that fits with the strategy I'm trying to place here. I'm proud of them."
Woods' excitement proved contagious as the Metro men quickly responded to their coach's style.
Metro answered with three goals by junior forward Luke Lamming within a span of eight minutes. Lamming's third goal of his second period hat trick brought the game to 5-6 in favor of the Jayhawks.
Freshman Bronson Barrett then scored to knot the game at 6-6.
The Metro men came into the third period pushing the Kansas State defense hard, and getting some great opportunities by speedy junior Kevin Shaw and some strong saves by goalie Robert Crane Jr.
Metro answered a Kansas goal early in the third period with one by Eugene Pomirchry.
Photo by Wayne Bart bart@mscd.edu
Metro goalie Aaron Nocera blocks a shot while down two men on a University of Kansas power play. Metro lost the game by a score of 7-8 because of a Kansas goal in the fi nal two minutes. They split the weekend series with Kansas 1-1, and now stand at 3-3-0 on the season.
The fast paced, high scoring style of the Roadrunners was fun to watch, but they were ultimately unsuccessful as the Jayhawks won, scoring a goal with 1:32 left to play.
Overall, Metro played hard and fast and had the game in hand for the entirety. Their poise and skill is a tease for what they're capable of throughout this season. Woods' system and plan for the season is the "sky" and the players have the ability to live up to it.
Behind Captain Duffus and the quick scoring of players like Lamming and Shaw, it shouldn't be hard to do well.
Metro's next opponent is Colorado College and the men from Metro are hungry to get back on the ice after a tough loss.