By Mike Salerno
Barring a losing streak of epic proportions, coach Ian Clugston and the mens’ ice hockey team needs to start making reservations for Albany. Convincing wins this past weekend over Gettysberg, Loyola, and Indiana of Pennsylvania that produced a whopping 25 goals have the Pride set up to surpass their original goal of simply making the regional tournament.
After hauling themselves to Philadelphia after Friday classes, the team readied themselves to face off against Gettysburg, a match-up that had garnered the most attention from the coaches leading up to the weekend. The team leaned heavily on its top unit of Dan Lio, captain Kevin Sheerin, and Craig Zecca as they rode to a sloppy 6-3 win. Zecca and Lio combined for eight points as the team looked forward to its game the following afternoon against an inferior Loyola team.
Though there were plenty of upsets over the course of the weekend, Hofstra refused to overlook Loyola. The team came out flying and never looked back, cruising to an easy 9-2 victory. By this time news had spread throughout the teams that SUNY Albany, the team ranked second in the Atlantic region had lost 4-2 to IUP, the team’s next opponent. This loss gave the team an even bigger opportunity if they could come out of the weekend unblemished.
After already staging a dramatic third period comeback the weekend before to defeat IUP, both teams suited up for a rematch that could potentially have a serious effect on where both teams placed in the next ACHA rankings. Starting the weekend ranked at twefth, IUP seemed to be on the outside looking in. But a 2-1 record with wins over Albany and Hofstra would almost assure them a spot in the top 10.
The teams traded goals early, as IUP scored on its first three shots. However, special teams proved to be the difference for the Pride. Assistant Captain Ryan Drudy scored a pair of shorthanded goals to give the team a 7-5 cushion after two goals. He added a third period goal for the hat trick as the team finished off IUP, 10-6, for the second time in consecutive weekends.
As Hofstra began to pull away, IUP stepped up their physical play. Answering the bell for Hofstra were Matt Bobko, a freshman recently recovered from a separated shoulder, and senior Matt Lavelle. The self-proclaimed “Bash Brothers” went in when necessary and defended their teammates for the rest of the game.
As time was running out, the entire Albany team began showing support for the Pride. “It had to feel good for the whole team to watch our rival SUNY Albany banging on the glass and cheering for our guys at the end of the IUP game,” said coach Clugston. “I know I felt good for them, very proud.”
When the new polls come out, Hofstra is projected to be ranked 5th in the Atlantic, with potential to move up to three spots before the start of next semester. In fact, with Albany coming to Long Beach in early February, the team hasn’t ruled out an automatic bid to the National Tournament as the second seed in the region.
“We set a goal at the start of the year to at this point be in the running for a spot at the regional play in,” he said, when asked about the weekend success. “We knew very early that this weekend in particular would be key in getting where we want to be come February. To play at the level we did over three very tough days and in front of four ranking committee members may have stamped our ticket.”