New York, NY -- The NYU men's ice hockey team lost a close match on Friday night to Pennsylvania State University, but danced on the ice following a resounding 10-2 defeat of Lafayette College Sunday night.
Four years have passed since Lafayette last faced the Violets, so the team was unsure before the game about its chances.
"We know nothing about this team," Coach Lloyd Polanish said. "We haven't played this team in years but...I think we're ready for them."
The first period proved to be the model for the rest of the game, with NYu dominating early. The first goal ocurred only 1 minute 2 seconds into the match and was made by one of the team's leading scorers, forward Matt Weindel, a junior. Play tightened after Weindel's goal and it appeared the game was going to be evenly matched. When NYU scored two more goals within 30 seconds of each other, however, and followed up with a fourth at the close of the period, the game was suddenly lopsided.
NYU hardly slouched in the second period, with forward Justin McDermott, a junior, scoring goal No.5 44 seconds into the period. Despite a Lafayette goal, the first of only two in the game, NYU later scored three additional goals in a single minute. Two late-period goals by forward Drew DeWitt, a junior, gave the team its first hat trick of the season.
Unlike the previous two periods, which were fluid and without much of the hard checking seen in previous games, the third period was gritty. NYU gained more penalties for roughing and elbowing than in the other two periods combined.
While Lafayette was able to score a goal with about five minutes to go, NYU remained up by eight, finishing with the strong 10-2 victory.
Following the game, players were all smiles. Some of them even remained on the ice and danced to the postgame music played at Chelsea Piers Sky Rink. Many agreed that the game was enjoyable and easy.
"It was a fun game," captain Daniel Nemchek said. "The were a weak team. Our freshman goalie did great."
Goalkeeper Paul Lenti remained in net all game, killing numerous penalties, including a five on three to Lafayette's advantage. However, he was quick to dismiss credit on his behalf.
"It was all about the defense," Lenti said. "It was a great team effort. This team makes it easy to be a goalie."
DeWitt placed some credit for the win on Lafayette's poor performance.
"They weren't that good," he said. "They were a lowbrow team, and they weren't up to our standards. Those who are tardy pay for the fucking party."
Polanish's opinion was a bit more subdued.
"Easy team or hard, it was good for the team's confidence," he said. "We didn't pick up any bad habits, we got a win after Friday's loss and we're moving forward. The team needed another win and we got it."
The team's spirits were a little lower after the close loss to Penn State Friday night. The first period featured one goal, scored by Penn State. Instead of scoring, the period featured plenty of penalties on both sides of the ice. Both defenses did a powerful job of killing numerous power plays.
Both teams notched three goals in the second period, but in the final period, NYU was unable to overcome Penn and lost 7-6.
Despite the loss, Polanish was proud of the Violet's performance.
"I was pleased because the team played their best," he said. "We lost, but it was close and we played some good hockey."
The next NYU game is away against Montclair State University in Little Falls, N.J. The next home game is Sunday at 4 p.m. against Lehigh University, at Chelsea Piers.