New York, NY -- The Men's Ice Hockey team got a go-ahead goal from freshman forward Bryan Schleppy late in the third period and went on to a season-opening 4-2 victory over the Monmouth University last Saturday at Wall Ice Arena in Farmingdale, New Jersey. "This game was a statement for things to come this season," said coach Stephen Hetherman. "Monmouth, a Metropolitan Collegiate Hockey Conference (MCHC) conference winner and ranked tenth in the American Club Hockey Association (ACHA) Northeast last year, was surprised to see the level of talent we put on the ice."
Most of that talent came from the 14 new players that joined the Violet's roster this season. And with only seven returning players dressed for the game, it was inevitable that the new guys had to step up.
"The new comers had an immediate impact on the game, scoring three of the four goals as well as playing solid team hockey," said Hetherman.
That fact, Hetherman said, was the key reason why the Violets were able to pull out the win. "It'samazing how much we can accomplish when no one cares who receives the credit," he said. "The defensemen played extremely well. When Monmouth was on the power play, they became so frustrated with our defensive play that they passed the puck to their own goalie to get a whistle to stop play so they could regroup. The goaltending was solid, and the forwards never gave the opposition any time to set up."
When Monmouth was unable to handle NYU's defensive pressure, the Violets dominated the first period, out-shooting the Ice Hawks 20-6. At the 12:15 mark, freshman Ben Maniere gave NYU a 1-0 lead off passes from freshman forward Mark Branden and sophomore defenseman Vincent Bruce. However, the lead only lasted five minutes, and Monmouth's Mike Elias slipped a shot behind sophomore goaltender Chad Ehrenkranz to even the score. To make matters worse, Ehrenkranz received a double minor for roughing shortly after. Thus NYU entered the second period a man down. But they held the Ice Hawks to just four shots on the power play, and eventually drew a power play themselves.
They convered it, as sophomore forward Dan Perry set up sophomore forward Joe Leonard to put the Violets up 2-1 midway through the period. But once again, the Ice Hawks had a quick response, as Ed Zurwiski tied the score just three minutes later.
In the third period, however, NYU finally pulled away, and in dramatic fashion. Schleppy got his goal with less than seven minutes left in the game, and just ten seconds later, freshman forward Mark Branden provided the insurance marker off a rush with sophomore forward Todd Portadin and senior defenseman Kirk Shimizuishi.
The Violets have this weekend off to prepare for back to back games the following weekend. On Friday, Oct. 22, they will face C.W. Post in Syossett. The next night, they open their home schedule at Chelsea Piers with a game against Suffolk County Community College (SCCC). Hetherman commented that it's important that the Violets build on their season-opening win.
"Although it's early in the season, both games are meaningful to reach our goal of returning to the playoffs," he said. "Both C.W. Post and Suffolk are very good hockey clubs. The team is going to have to play with intensity and determination."