Spring Break
URI drops matchup against Delaware
Joe Roberto
Issue date: 3/5/09 Section: Sports
03/05/09 - With the American Collegiate Hockey Association National Tournament in sight, the University of Rhode Island men's ice hockey team lost its matchup against the tough University of Delaware, 6-3.
"We need to play a full 60 minutes in order to succeed," said assistant coach Christian Rigamonti. "Against Delaware, we didn't and we lost."
URI started out the game behind after Delaware's center, Andrew Bailey, scored with only 1:33 into the first period.
Sophomore Bobby Gauthier answered Delaware's goal that tied the game up at one with his goal at 6:45. This was Gauthier's fourth goal of the season.
The second period started in URI's favor with an early goal at 2:18 from junior James Lang putting the Rams up, 2-1.
After Lang's goal in the second, the Blue Hens controlled the rest of the period. Delaware scored three goals in the period coming from Thomas Krough and two from Rocky Romanella.
With the Rams down 4-2, the Blue Hens added to their lead in the third period when Andre Monard scored in the beginning at 2:41.
URI made the deficit to only two when freshman Kyle Letourneau scored his third goal of the season at 12:13. Delaware ended Rhode Island's hopes for a comeback when the Blue Hens forward David Lombardi scored at 18:13, taking the victory, 6-3.
[freshman goalie] Joe Spagnoli struggled in the net and was tested many times during the game. He stopped 39 out of the 45 shots coming his way, but his effort wasn't enough for a Rams victory.
The Rams will now travel to Cleveland, Ohio to play Ohio University in the ACHA National Tournament. Ohio is ranked 10th in the tournament while URI is ranked seventh.
"Each team in the national tournament is a top-ranked team that can't be taken lightly. Ohio just won the most difficult league in country," Rigamonti said. "So the No. 10 ranking means nothing to us. The lowest-seeded team in the tournament can do the same amount of damage as the top-seeded team."
He added, "Every team will be nervous that first game, but once the puck drops, those nerves go away. Keeping things simple in any game will be important."
"We need to play a full 60 minutes in order to succeed," said assistant coach Christian Rigamonti. "Against Delaware, we didn't and we lost."
URI started out the game behind after Delaware's center, Andrew Bailey, scored with only 1:33 into the first period.
Sophomore Bobby Gauthier answered Delaware's goal that tied the game up at one with his goal at 6:45. This was Gauthier's fourth goal of the season.
The second period started in URI's favor with an early goal at 2:18 from junior James Lang putting the Rams up, 2-1.
After Lang's goal in the second, the Blue Hens controlled the rest of the period. Delaware scored three goals in the period coming from Thomas Krough and two from Rocky Romanella.
With the Rams down 4-2, the Blue Hens added to their lead in the third period when Andre Monard scored in the beginning at 2:41.
URI made the deficit to only two when freshman Kyle Letourneau scored his third goal of the season at 12:13. Delaware ended Rhode Island's hopes for a comeback when the Blue Hens forward David Lombardi scored at 18:13, taking the victory, 6-3.
[freshman goalie] Joe Spagnoli struggled in the net and was tested many times during the game. He stopped 39 out of the 45 shots coming his way, but his effort wasn't enough for a Rams victory.
The Rams will now travel to Cleveland, Ohio to play Ohio University in the ACHA National Tournament. Ohio is ranked 10th in the tournament while URI is ranked seventh.
"Each team in the national tournament is a top-ranked team that can't be taken lightly. Ohio just won the most difficult league in country," Rigamonti said. "So the No. 10 ranking means nothing to us. The lowest-seeded team in the tournament can do the same amount of damage as the top-seeded team."
He added, "Every team will be nervous that first game, but once the puck drops, those nerves go away. Keeping things simple in any game will be important."
