Hockey splits weekend with Lumberjacks

By Shaun Cook
scook43@mscd.edu

Metro club hockey split another series last weekend, winning big in game one, but falling short at the end of game two.

Friday, the Metro men blew out Northern Arizona University 14-3, but dropped the second game 4-3 on Saturday.

Coming in to the rematch, the Roadrunners showed the confidence and savvy that coach Greg Woods said was a hallmark of his young and talented squad. This was highlighted Saturday night by the almost constant barrage they unleashed on the NAU goalie.

"We're fast and young and incredibly talented," captain Chris Duffus said of the squad's eagerness, "but we have to get used to a full game. This is a rebuilding year, and the guys we have are allying themselves with the system quickly."

This acceptance was made obvious by Metro's "goal parade" Friday night.

"I almost felt a need to slow them down," Woods said about the 14-3 blowout.

Saturday night the NAU men came out to save face. They showed this by scoring the only two goals of the first period.

The 'Runners were scored on early in the second period. Metro answered quickly with a goal by junior Luke Lamming off an assist from Duffus. Northern Arizona scored again at the end of the second, despite the endless offensive bombardment of the Roadrunners.

The score was 4-2 heading into the third. The 'Runners' opportunities paid off with another Lamming-Duffus combo, but Metro ultimately fell short.

Outshooting NAU by a drastic margin was not enough as time expired.

During the two games, the 'Runners showed their mettle and their ability to skate and score around anyone in their division.

Woods said he is optimistic that, as the season draws on, the younger members of the team will come together. With their obvious talent, this team will accomplish what his system has set out to do - win. They've won thus far and have turned some heads throughout the league with a solid 4-4 start.

Metro hockey will finish October in the Beehive State with a game against Utah Valley State College on Oct. 28 and a game against Utah State University on Oct. 29.

The Roadrunners return to Colorado in the first week of November for a home-and-home series against the Colorado State University Rams.