Spring Break
Nittany Lions put up fight, Penn State splits weekend matches with URI hockey
Joe Roberto
Issue date: 11/25/08 Section: Sports
11/25/08 - Coming off what URI Coach Joe Augustine called the "biggest win of the season" against Wesleyan University, the University of Rhode Island men's ice hockey team split their weekend matchup against Pennsylvania State University, losing 3-2 Friday, and winning 5-2 Saturday.
After going up 2-0 in Friday night's matchup, the Rams gave up three straight goals against the Penn State offense to lose the game.
Saturday night started in Penn State's favor after a first period goal at 12:50 by PSU senior Jaime Zimmel. The goal was scored on the third shot for PSU.
After an early goal scored by the Nittany Lions, the Rams bounced right back. With 23.8 seconds left in the first period, senior Ben Harring tied the score at one.
"The way we played in Friday's game gave us some confidence," said Augustine. "We knew we could play with them, all in all, we performed well against a good team."
The second period belonged to the Rams. Rhody scored four goals in the period with 11 shots on net. Goals came from freshman Dan Lassik, who had two in the period, senior Mike Bragger and freshman Jay Dupras.
Penn State tried fighting back in the third period with a goal at 12:13 by senior Steve Thurston, but freshman goalie Joe Spagnoli denied 21 out of the 23 shots coming his way, and didn't let PSU make a comeback.
"We are playing unbelievable, it was tough not closing out [Friday] night's game, but the team is starting the gel together," Dupras said. "The win is great progress for us, it's great for us to knock off a good team."
The Rams next game, scheduled for this weekend against the University of Massachusetts, was cancelled. The Rams will be off for a couple of weeks to prepare to improve their 10-6-1 record.
Having a couple of weeks off was a "blessing," Augustine said. The team was hit with injuries in this weekend's matchup. Senior captain Cory Manley was slow to get up after a hit in the second period and didn't return to the game. Augustine said the injury was likely to his hip.
The Rams will be back in action Dec. 5 with an away weekend matchup against Oklahoma University.
After going up 2-0 in Friday night's matchup, the Rams gave up three straight goals against the Penn State offense to lose the game.
Saturday night started in Penn State's favor after a first period goal at 12:50 by PSU senior Jaime Zimmel. The goal was scored on the third shot for PSU.
After an early goal scored by the Nittany Lions, the Rams bounced right back. With 23.8 seconds left in the first period, senior Ben Harring tied the score at one.
"The way we played in Friday's game gave us some confidence," said Augustine. "We knew we could play with them, all in all, we performed well against a good team."
The second period belonged to the Rams. Rhody scored four goals in the period with 11 shots on net. Goals came from freshman Dan Lassik, who had two in the period, senior Mike Bragger and freshman Jay Dupras.
Penn State tried fighting back in the third period with a goal at 12:13 by senior Steve Thurston, but freshman goalie Joe Spagnoli denied 21 out of the 23 shots coming his way, and didn't let PSU make a comeback.
"We are playing unbelievable, it was tough not closing out [Friday] night's game, but the team is starting the gel together," Dupras said. "The win is great progress for us, it's great for us to knock off a good team."
The Rams next game, scheduled for this weekend against the University of Massachusetts, was cancelled. The Rams will be off for a couple of weeks to prepare to improve their 10-6-1 record.
Having a couple of weeks off was a "blessing," Augustine said. The team was hit with injuries in this weekend's matchup. Senior captain Cory Manley was slow to get up after a hit in the second period and didn't return to the game. Augustine said the injury was likely to his hip.
The Rams will be back in action Dec. 5 with an away weekend matchup against Oklahoma University.
