New York, NY -- The NYU men's hockey team notched two wins this weekend, bringing its record up to a fantastic 11-1. Although Sunday's game at Villanova University was a 13-3 blowout, Saturday's 6-1 win over the State University of New York at Stony Brook was the weekend's highlight.
Any doubts of NYU's staying power this season were eliminated following Saturday's defeat of the SUNY-Stony Brook Seawolves. After losing to Stony Brook's aggressive offensive style last year, NYU Head Coach Lloyd Polanish and several players considered the Seawolves the team to beat.
Stony Brook took the early advantage in offensive attempts and their defense held the first few minutes of the period scoreless. But halfway through the period, team captain and senior Dan Nemchek scored the first goal of the game, and Stony Brook fell apart. The Seawolves turned to making quick attempts at the goal, but they could not convert against freshman goalie Brian Kenney. Four minutes later, senior defender Brian Gilmore scored the second goal of the game.
NYU shined in the second period, scoring three goals in one minute toward the middle of the period. They scored their sixth and final goal of the game just 11 seconds before intermission.
Stony Brook grabbed its first goal of the game after junior forward Matt Weindel was ejected for face-masking. But the Violets tightened its play and stifled Stony Brook from that point on.
Despite the excitement of beating a team that they prepared for all season, many players weren't surprised by the win.
"This is huge, but this is also our season so far," Weindel said.
Despite his brick-wall performance, Kenney was quick to wave off his part in the win.
"I can't say enough about the team," Kenney said, who stopped 37 out of 38 shots on goal. "Everyone just played and the defense let me see the puck really well."
Drew DeWitt, who has more one-liners than an Arnold Schwarzenegger movie, unveiled a new slogan for the team.
"Our nickname is 'Lightning' because thunder is just noise," proclaimed DeWitt. With a 11-1 record, NYU is now first in its division and fourth in the nation. NYU's next home game is Nov. 14 against Westfield State College of Connecticut at 7 p.m.