Now, THAT’S more like it. The West Chester University men’s hockey team looked like the high-flying Golden Rams of old this weekend as they racked up wins of 9-1 and 5-2 against one of its biggest rivals, the Drexel University Dragons.
On Friday night, WCU got nine goals from eight different players as they lambasted the Dragons in a game that reminded many onlookers of some of WCU’s recent high-scoring teams. Despite missing its best player in Pat Johnson, who was feeling the effects of flu-like symptoms, WCU used its speed and skill to pepper Drexel’s goaltender with 43 shots, many of which were from prime shooting areas.
Offensively gifted defenseman Steve Jones started the scoring for WCU on the power play when he wired a shot past the outmanned Drexel goaltender. Bob McInerney and Mike Longo drew assists on the play. Tom Scocozza would be the next to light the lamp for the Golden Rams, as he took a feed from Steave Meade and snuck a shot in.
In the second stanza, the Golden Rams continued their relentless attack to the tune of four goals. Chris Baer, Eric Ryder, Jon Hendricks and Longo all tallied once, with Ryder’s goal coming on the power play. Both Longo and Hendricks also picked up second period-assists, with Hendricks setting up Baer’s goal with help from Eric Keene and Longo setting up Hendricks’ goal.
The continued attack from WCU paid dividends in the third and final period as they were able to add three more goals. Meade added his third point of the evening with a goal when he took a feed from Eric Tkacik and ripped a shot past the outstretched Drexel goaltender.
Defenseman Jeff Shockley then added a power play tally with help from Scocozza, and Ryder would cap off the scoring late in the game on the strength of an unassisted goal. Freshman goaltender Matt Murnane was rock-solid in net again for WCU, as he turned away 30 of 31 Drexel shots.
“Murnane’s really established himself as our number one guy,” said WCU general manager Dom Bellizzie. “We have faith in all three of our goaltenders, but Murnane’s our top guy right now.”
On Saturday night, sophomore goaltender Roman Chiokadze got the start for the Golden Rams as they traveled to Drexel for a rematch from the previous night. Chiokadze’s night didn’t last very long, however, as he pulled a hamstring after giving up a goal on four shots and was pulled; in favor of the healthier Murnane. Murnane stepped in admirably and only allowed one goal on 28 shots the rest of the way en route to a 5-2 win for the Golden Rams.
Meade got the scoring started in the first for WCU, as he took a pass from Tkacik on the power play and blasted a shot past Drexel’s goaltender. Tkacik then got into the goal-scoring action with a goal of his own in the second period on the strength of assists from Tim Margadonna and Brandon Person. Longo then struck next for the Golden Rams as he tallied his second goal of the weekend off of a Scocozza feed.
The lethal WCU power play struck again on this evening, as Margadonna widened WCU’s lead with a goal of his own with help from Longo and Shockley. Jones would then put the cherry on top of the sundae with an empty-net goal in the final minute of the game off a Meade assist.
Ten different WCU players notched a goal this weekend, which is encouraging for any team but should be especially pleasing to head coach Mark Gonsalves as he continues to look for balanced scoring. Meade, Longo and Scocozza combined for 13 points this weekend, with Meade’s five points setting the pace for the team.
Murnane was excellent between the pipes for WCU, as he turned away 58 of 60 shots that he faced. This was exactly the type of series that WCU needed as it looks to get its offense on the right track before the heart of the schedule starts. When the Golden Rams play as well as they played this weekend, they are a very difficult team to play against.
“We’re pretty pleased with this weekend’s effort,” said Bellizzie. “The kids played well and it’s nice to see the offense rolling again.”
The win propelled WCU to 5-3 in conference play, and they will host the University of Rhode Island Rams this weekend.
The two schools are no strangers to each other, having faced off numerous times when both teams played in the Eastern Collegiate Hockey Association.
Rhode Island, which is reeling after being swept by Penn State, will undoubtedly be out for blood. The weekend battle will go a long way in determining ESCHL standings, and a WCU sweep would make things very interesting in the standings.
Matt Chandik is a fifth-year student majoring in Spanish with a minor in Journalism. He can be reached at MC618553@wcupa.edu.