Spring Break
Men's hockey sweeps University of Delaware
Shawn Saiya
Issue date: 11/4/09 Section: Sports
|
The Rams started junior goalie Joe Spagnoli on Friday, while Delaware started junior goalie Kurt Pflumm at the other end.
Rhode Island got on the board midway through a physical first period on the strength of a goal from sophomore forward Evan Dietz.
The physical play would continue into the second period with the number of hits for each team steadily increasing. Sophomore forward Jay Dupras scored his sixth goal of the season to increase the Rams lead just over six minutes into the period.
The Rams came out in the third period determined to get Spagnoli the shutout. The Rams defense seemingly made every rebound and the penalty kill was aggressive in clearing the puck.
In the waning seconds of a penalty kill midway through the third period, senior forward Devin Sheehan scooped up the puck at center ice and went on a one-on-one rush when he spotted sophomore forward Robert Beggi for a pass which enabled Beggi to score.
"Sheehan made a great play wide and got the puck to the middle and I put it home," Beggi said.
The shutout was the first of the season for the Rams, and the first of Spagnoli's career.
"The defense played well in the zone and Spags came up big. It was nice to get the shutout for him," Beggi said.
"[The team] was winning defensive battles and blocking shots," Spagnoli said after the win. "They were able to clear any rebounds away in front of me and the guys scored at key times. I'm getting into a good groove right now and my confidence is pretty high."
Spagnoli got the nod in goal again Saturday, making his first back-to-back start of the season. Delaware started Pflumm in net once again for the Blue Hens.
Delaware came out determined to get its first goal of the series. The Blue Hens struck first with a goal just over five minutes into the game off the stick of sophomore forward Andre Menard. Rhode Island would respond with a power play goal from Beggi late in the period.
Dietz extended his goal-scoring streak to five games with a goal five and a half minutes into the second period. Dietz scored six goals and added three assists during the streak.
Be the first to comment on this story