Georgetown-2 at University of Maryland (Div. 2)-1

10/06/01

Georgetown started their 2001-2002 season off with a matchup against defending ACCHL champion, the Maryland Terrapins. This game was a true test for the Hoyas as the Terps are in a division above the team and are always a fast squad. Both teams started the game playing very conservatively. The first period featured only penalties on the scoresheet as neither team could solve either goaltender. However, twenty minutes in penalties gave both teams many opportunities. The second period featured much of the same. There were only six penalties called in the second period, five of which were on Maryland. This overload of powerplays provided many chances for the Hoyas’ potent special teams, but they just had a hard time getting the puck past Maryland goalie Jason Milke. The second period ended just as the first, with a 0-0 tie. At the beginning of the third period, both teams knew that the first goal would be very important. Just over four minutes into the period, the Hoyas’ top line of Trevor Martin, Brian Hern, and Phil Ardire unloaded on Milke with several shots and Hern finally poked home a rebound to give the Hoyas the all-important first goal. There was still over 15 minutes to play though, so a tough defensive effort was needed. Forward Chas Dorman helped cover a wide-open Mitch Dolina in front of the net, but a fluke goal came of it when Josh Rubin’s shot bounced in off the falling Dolina to tie the game with nine minutes to go. The final nine minutes saw both teams open it up trying to get the winning goal. The Hoyas’ depth was a big help as they were able to have their top two lines rested for the final minutes. After a Hoya time-out with just over a minute left, the first line came through again. Freshmen Sean Coakley regained the puck after he lost it at the blue line and fed Brian Hern. Hern skated through a check along the wing boards and fed a streaking Trevor Martin who fired a slap shot past Milke. The goal came with forty-seven seconds left in the game. The Hoyas’ defense clamped down for the remaining seconds and the team’s hardwork and persistence was rewarded with a well-earned 2-1 victory. The ACCHL’s website called the loss “devastating” and “shocking” for the Terps. The victory is just what the Hoyas wanted to start off their drive towards another MDCHL league championship and a berth in the National Tournament.

Georgetown-9 at. Loyola (Md.)-2

10/13/01

The Hoyas opened their defense of the Mason Dixon College Hockey League crown with a resounding 9-2 victory over Loyola (Md.) on the Greyhounds’ home rink. The Hoyas have traditionally had a rough time with the Greyhounds, having lost two of the last four matchups, both on the road. This victory exorcised a few demons for the Hoyas and gave them a good jump on league play. Things did not look like they were going the Hoyas’ way at the start of the game though as the Greyhounds jumped out to a quick 1-0 lead just over three minutes into the game as they caught Georgetown lost in transition. The Hoyas were not ready for a repeat of last year’s loss, however, and stormed right back. Dan Percella scored his first goal of the year forty seconds later. Two more goals were scored in the first period by Georgetown, including Sophomore Mike Sussman’s first of the year. The second period saw things quiet down a bit as penalties limited both teams’ ability to put together sustained momentum. The Hoyas did put two goals on the board, again only forty seconds apart, as Percella and Brain Hern gave the Hoyas some breathing room. With the score 5-1 as the third period began, Georgetown gave Freshmen goaltender Zack Domont his first action of the season. Domont was tested early by the Greyhounds but turned away all shots except for one that slipped through his pads after a turnover in the defensive zone. Georgetown’s two netminders saw thirteen shots in the game and turned away 11, with the only blemishes the first shot and the last. The third period saw the Hoyas open up their offense a bit and score four goals. Hern and Trevor Martin each knocked in their second of the game while Charles Carson and Keith Mazza scored their first goals of the season. At the end of the game, Georgetown was ahead on the scoreboard 9-2 and had outshot the Greyhounds 46-13, proving that they had been dominant in all aspects of the game. Instead of leaving Baltimore with an early season defeat as they had the past two seasons, the Hoyas left with a solid, tone-setting victory that will pave the way for the rest of the season. Up next for the Hoyas is a second venture into the ACCHL where they complete their three game revenge tour as they look to make up for another early season loss from last year against the University of Virginia. The Hoos beat the Hoyas 7-3 last year and the loss left a permanent taste in the mouth of the Hoyas. A victory Friday night in Charlottesville will place the Hoyas at 3-0, with a clean sweep of the three teams who beat them last year.

Georgetown-4 at University of Virginia (Div II)-0

Friday, October 19th

The Hoyas traveled to Charlottesville, Virginia to finish up their three game revenge tour against the Virginia Cavaliers. Last year UVA defeated Georgetown 7-3. The Hoyas entered this contest looking to bring their record against ACC teams to 2-0. The Hoyas jumped out to a quick start, taking the attack to UVA from the first face-off. After a UVA penalty at 8:14 of the first period, the Hoyas’ powerplay unit came through as it has many times on this young season. After a Trevor Martin face-off win, Brain Hern put a quick shot on goal which was turned away as was John Vaccarro’s rebound attempt. Martin followed the play to the net and put the third shot past UVA’s Kris Hrones after only 8 seconds had elapsed on the penalty, giving Georgetown a 1-0 lead. Just over two minutes later, the Hoyas added to their lead with a goal from sophomore Jamie Michal. Michal broke in 3 on 2 with linemates George Lividas and Chas Dorman. Lividas fired a shot on goal and Michal picked up the rebound, waited patiently for the goaltender to fall and then put the puck in the top corner to give Georgetown a 2-0 lead. Lividas and Dorman picked up assists on the play. The score stayed the same until just before the end of the period. With Ben Weed in the penalty box, the Hoyas’ special teams again came through. Junior Mike Chepucavage stripped a UVA defensemen of the puck behind the UVA net and fed a streaking Trevor Martin who one-timed the puck past a flustered UVA goalie fro a 3-0 lead. The score remained 3-0 until halfway through the second period. The third line of Michal-Lividas-Dorman again provided sustained pressure on UVA’s goalie. Freshmen Joe Spitz converted a nice cross-ice pass from his partner Pete McLaughlin to score his first collegiate goal and put the game out of reach at 4-0. George Lividas picked up his second assist of the game on the play as well. Virginia picked up its play for the rest of the game but could not solve Georgetown goalie Casey Yarger. Yarger stopped all 30 shots that he faced to bring his and the team’s record to 3-0. The Hoyas now have a week off until they face George Washington University at the MCI Center on November 2nd.