New York, NY -- The NYU ice hockey team is one step closer to securing a playoff spot this season as they defeated the CW Post Pioneers at Chelsea Piers on Friday night by a score of 6-4. This victory extended the Violets' winning streak to four games as they came off an incredible holiday weekend sweep.
With only two lines to work with, NYU showed a rough-housing CW Post how a winning team performs when it is on top of its game. The quiet, penalty-free first period was sloppy on both sides, as neither team could cleanly control the puck. CW Post scored first at 3:43 on a shot that just squirted past goaltender Freddie Kaufmann. NYU got started when forward Prentiss Noyes shoved in a goal from Sarah Smith to tie the game at 6:00 in the first. Although CW Post regained their one goal lead minutes after the Noyes goal, the Pioneers' unstable stickhandling set the stage for an NYU strike. The Violets' top goal scorer, Kirk Shimizuishi, tied the score at 10-5 when his shot hit a skate in front, sailed straight up in teh air beyond the goalie's reach and landed cozily behind the goal line. The deflection caught the gaolie by surprise and it silenced the Pioneer bench. Tom Capotosta assisted on the goal, which gave NYU confidence throughout the rest of the game.
The Violets' defense really worked hard in order to keep CW Post's scoring chances down. Despite the fact that they allowed 40 shots to get through to Kaufmann, the defense stepped up when it mattered most. Playing without their head defenseman Benoit Uguex, Gerry Milligan, Damian Walter and Jeremy Steinhaus continually knocked the puck off the sticks of their opponents in order to stop odd-man rushes. They not only defended Kaufmann up front and in the crease, but they paved the way for the Violets' top wingers to accomplsih their job with ease.
The Violets' team captain Paul Leakas notched NYU's fourth goal at 4:42 of the second period as he took a pass from Noyes and knocked it just past the Pioneer netminder.
In the last half of the second, most of the real action took place in CW Post's own end of the ice. Shimizuishi blasted one through the five hole at 8:01 courtesy of Capotosta. By then, the contest was over.
The victory means significantly more than just an ordinary late season win. By defeating CW Post, NYU is just one more point away from a playoff spot. A Violet win against Seton Hall this Friday night, coupled with one Fordham loss, secures a spot for the team in the post season. They have been able to ride high on their own confidence, jelling of personalities and the support of the few faithful fans. The Violets hope to repeat the success they had two seasons ago when they ventured into the post season. Friday's game is at Chelsea Piers at 7pm.