Category | Sports

Ice hockey finishes second

Published on February 8, 2007 by The Sentinel

    The KSU men’s hockey team started the American Collegiate Hockey
Association  Southeastern Regional tournament with two convincing
victories, but lost in the championship game to University of
Tennessee.

The Owls defeated East Carolina Feb. 2, 8-0, followed by another win against Central Florida Feb. 3, 9-1.
      These wins put
the number No. 3 Owls in the championship game against No. 1 Tennessee.

    The teams faced off Sunday afternoon and did not
disappoint. The Owls came out firing, scoring two goals midway through
the first period.

    The momentum would shift back to the Vols following
a questionable hit from behind penalty called on forward Aaron Sewell.

    With the Owls playing a man down for five minutes,
the Vols were able to capitalize with two goals before the end of the
first period.

    With the Owls in the penalty box most of the second
period, the Vols skated to three additional unanswered goals. Both
teams would add one goal each before the period ended at 6-3 in
Tennessee’s favor.

    The Owls came out of the locker room trying to prove
they deserved the number one ranking in the South. They were able to
capitalize on a UT penalty, when Chris Koutnik scored an unassisted
goal to put the owls within two with ten minutes remaining in the third
period.

    The pressure dished out by the Owls was evenly
matched by the intensity of the Vols. Jerry Holden made things exciting
when he was able to score with one minute remaining in the third
period. With goalie Steve Hartley pulled out of net for an extra
skater, the Owls were unable to put one in the back of the net to tie
the game, losing 6-5.

    “It was a hard fought game by both sides, and we
just came up a bit short in the end,” said team president Ryan Falvai.
“Hopefully we will be ranked number two from the south going into the
ACHA National tournament with our good play this weekend.”

    The Owls scored 22 goals in three games in the
tournament. With Steve Hartley in net allowing only seven goals during
the tournament, good enough for 2.33 Goals Against Average.

    The team looks to be taking steps to make a push for
the ACHA Division III National Championship with their first appearance
at Nationals coming in late February.

    The Owls will play three away games prior to
traveling to the tournament. The Owls will hit the road to play
Division I Liberty University for two games on Feb. 16 and 17.

    The National tournament will be held in Fort Wayne,
IN from Feb. 28 through March 3. For more information on the National
Championship tournament check the hockey team’s website at
www.ksuicehockey.com.