West Chester University’s long-standing hockey rivalry with the University of Delaware has been a bit one-sided over the past several years. Entering Saturday night, the Golden Rams had lost the previous 18 games against the Blue Hens, dating back to early in the 2008-09 season.
That losing streak ended on Saturday with a gutsy 5-4 win for West Chester in what was their best 60-minute effort of the season.
Delaware came out of the gates strong, establishing a solid, physical forecheck with their biggest line- Christian Tasker, Michael Piet and Wes Bonnell. Within the first few minutes they had ripped five shots on Rams goalie Randy Japchen, who steered them all aside.
Japchen was a catalyst for the Rams all game. He let in four goals, but two of them were on the power play, and he faced 43 shots. His focus and positioning were evident as Delaware put bodies in front of the net and tried to screen him from the shooter. He never faltered under pressure.
“Randy stood on his head tonight, said junior alternate captain Jim McKee. “The preparation that Randy takes before every game is the reason he is always ready to go right away. Randy is a big reason for the win tonight and continues to be a quiet leader in the locker room who shows his leadership through his play.”
Midway through the first period Zach Jensen opened scoring with just his second goal of the year, and a few minutes later Micahel Dorschneider sparked a 2-1 rush with Justin Finnerty, faked a pass across the middle and buried the Rams second goal of the game. The goals from two unlikely heroes sparked the Golden Rams, who elevated their physical play and ended the first period with a flurry of chances and a sustained forecheck.
“When you see players like Jensen score, it gets the whole bench up,” McKee said. “Players who work hard day in and out like Jensen are the reason why players like Walsh and McMahon play hard and throw their weight around. The older guys on the team are setting great examples and that’s why the freshmen are starting to buy in. If not, they know someone will be in their ear. We play as a team this year and not individuals, that’s the main reason why the team is always elevated.”
“To see them come out like that and play huge games against one of the best teams in the ACHA says a lot about their maturity and how hard they want to contribute,” added Japchen. “That’s exactly what we need from them.”
However, it was a familiar spot for the Golden Rams against this Delaware team. Several times in the last few years they have entered the second period either ahead or tied, only to be rolled over by a resurgent UD club.
Saturday was not an exception. Although West Chester led the period in shots, 12-11, they were thoroughly outplayed and out of their element. The Golden Rams took several penalties, one of which ended up in a penalty shot goal for Tasker.
Delaware was able to tie the game on the goal from Tasker and another from Bonnell, and it seemed as if the all too familiar story would unfold yet again. But with the score tied at two, Dorfshneider netted his second goal of the contest, and fifth of the year to put the Rams ahead. They were able to stave off a five minute Delaware power play towards the end of the period that was the result of a major penalty for spearing, and entered the third period with a one goal lead.
The penalty kill for West Chester was one of the brightest spots for the young team, led by McKee, who has grown into one of the best penalty killers West Chester has seen in the last several years. McKee and the other penalty killers shut down power play after power play, stopping some of Delaware’s best snipers.
“The main thing that you have to do on a penalty kill is block shots and take away passing lines and we did that really well tonight and the results showed,” McKee said. “We stayed in a tight diamond and played as a unit on the penalty kill, not as individuals, which is the key to a shutdown against UD.”
Even after a questionable knee-on-knee hit from a Delaware man left him writhing on the ice, the junior forward returned not long after, in obvious pain, to help shutdown the dangerous Delaware power play.
“It wasn’t a thought to me to stop playing,” McKee said. “Although it was killing me I know my teammates are playing through injuries as well, and in order to win you have to have heart, especially in big games such as UD.”
“Our defense and defensive zone coverage were phenomenal last night,” said Japchen. “The amount of blocked was huge, and guys were sacrificing their bodies. Words cannot describe the level of effort and sacrifice the team gave to cover the zone and solidify that win.”
The third period was an all-out blitz from both teams. Bonnell tied the game with his second goal of the game, but then minutes later captain Matt Sklodowski gave the Rams a 4-3 lead with his third of the season.
Midway through the period, Delaware captain Mark Zeszut, who had been getting quality chances all night, finally found the back of the net for his 17th goal of the year, once again tying the game.
Delaware continued to send out the Tasker-Piet-Bonnell line, which had already scored thrice and continued to get chances due to their superior size and speed. The Blue Hens ripped 20 shots on goal in the third period alone, but Japchen stood tall and made several huge saves on prime scoring chances, keeping the game locked at four. It stayed that way until the final two minutes.
Adam Ball found some skating room in neutral ice, and swung past a Delaware defender up the left side. He cut into the circle and fired a shot off the pad of goalie Noble Tucker. He got his own rebound and backhanded another shot on goal, which Tucker saved again, but once again left the rebound out in front. Senior forward Chris Tamminga slammed it into the net, giving the Rams a 5-4 lead.
Delaware pulled Tucker in favor of the extra attacker, and even had 15 seconds of 6-4 power play due to a late penalty, but West Chester remained in control and wore out the clock, securing the first win over Delaware the team has had in 18 games, spanning parts of six seasons.
“[It was] absolutely our best game in the last four years,” Japchen said.
The win moves the Rams to 8-6-1 on the season, and Delaware falls to 12-4-1. It was just the third game the Blue Hens have lost on the road this year, entering the game having gone 10-2 away from home ice.
West Chester will resume play on Friday night against Villanova, with puck drop set for 6:30 p.m.
Note: The radio broadcast of this game against Delaware can be heard on WCUR 91.7 FM on Wednesday, Nov. 20 at 4 p.m.
Kenny Ayres is a fourth-year student majoring in communication studies with a journalism minor. He can be reached at KA739433@wcupa.edu.
Fri. Apr 26th, 2024
