BLTF 042621 by John Nichols

BEARS LAX TRAX 042621

HIGHLIGHTS

A first in the history of Bears Lax Trax Fax— an interdivisional Bears versus Bears contest!

TUFTS (Kyle Amitay, Garrett Kurtz) 15

DARTMOUTH (Brendon Gallagher, Brett Gallagher) 9

Although there was no league play for the Ivies this year, some of the teams have scheduled a game or two here at the end of the regular season. Dartmouth scheduled the first of its two games with perennial D-III power Tufts. Big Green took an early 2-0 lead and lead 3-2 at the end of the first period. The second period was all Tufts as the Jumbos tallied six unanswered goals. Dartmouth opened that scoring in the third quarter, but the Tuft’s four goal run that followed put the game out of reach.

Kyle took one faceoff for Tufts.

D-I

THIS WEEK’S GAMES

BEARS VS BEARS

MARYLAND (Justin Shockey, John Geppert, Matt Kopp, Griffin Brown) 14

JOHNS HOPKINS (Joey Epstein) 13

Maryland closed out their regular season with a perfect 10-0 record, but it did not look like that would be the case with two minutes left in the game and the Blue Jays up by two. Maryland took raced out to an early 5-0 lead in the first period and it looked like there would be a repeat of the Terrapins’ earlier win over Hopkins. Over the balance of the first half, the Jays were able trim Maryland’s lead, but the Terps always had an answer. Hopkins five goal run that closed out the first half and started the second tied the score at nine all, setting the stage for a hotly contested finish.

After the teams traded goals in the second half, the Blue Jays broke on top with a three goal run in the middle of the fourth quarter. With three minutes left in the game, John Geppert scooped up a ground ball and that was the last time that Hopkins had possession. Maryland scored as the possession clock neared zero and then tied the game with a quick score off the faceoff. Maryland again won possession and got the game winner as the shot clock again approached zero. One final faceoff win for Maryland, secured by John Geppert’s ground ball, closed the books on this furious comeback for Maryland.

Griffin scored a pair of goals for Maryland and John contributed six ground balls and three caused turnovers.

Joey had a goal and three assists for the Jays, the first assist on Hopkins’ first score of the day plus a pair of assists in the three-goal run that gave the Jays a late lead.

OTHER GAMES

Army (Drennan Greene) 4

Navy 9

Army attacked and Navy defended. The last line in Navy’s defense, their goalie, determined the outcome of this edition of this historic rivalry. Army put twenty-three shots on goal and nineteen of them died in the cross of Navy’s keeper.

BUCKNELL (Colin O’Brien, Drew Wellington) 12

Lehigh 18

The Bison fought to keep this game against the Patriot league leader close, but each time Bucknell started to bite into Lehigh’s lead, Lehigh scored goals in groups of three or two while preventing any runs by Bucknell.

Drew got the start on defense and had three ground balls. Colin played as well, taking a shot and retrieving a ground ball.

CLEVELAND STATE (Justin Connor) 9

Utah 11

The Vikings outplayed Utah in most statistical categories but were undone by a hot Utah goalie whose fifteen saves made the difference.

DENVER (Ryan Giles) 19

St. John’s 11

Denver raced out to a 15-0 lead, holding St. John’s scoreless until there were eight minutes left in the second period. St. John’s seven goal run in the middle of the second half helped make the score more respectable.

Ryan saw playing time for the Pioneers.

LOYOLA (Cam James) 11

Lafayette 7

Lafayette scored first but a pair of goals in response by Loyola gave the Greyhounds a lead that would hold up throughout the contest. Still, the ‘hounds lead never appeared insurmountable and a run of three goals by Lafayette in the middle of the second half cut Loyola’s lead to one. The Greyhounds closed out the game with three unanswered goals to cement the win.

MICHIGAN (Zach Johnson) 12

Rutgers 13

Big Blue nearly pulled a big upset. Michigan jumped out to an early lead, but a four goal run by Rutgers turned an early two goal deficit into a two goal lead. Michigan made runs at the Scarlet Knights but could do no better than to pull within one. Finally, with nine minutes left in the game, a pair of Michigan goals tied the game up at twelve all. Rutgers got the lead back with just over five minutes to play. The balance of regulation saw scoreless possessions for both teams. Michigan got a big break late and went man-up on a Rutgers unnecessary roughness foul with just over a minute remaining, but could not take advantage of the opportunity.

PENN STATE (Nate Buller) 10

Ohio State 9

Neither team could shake the other in a game in which the score was tied eight times and no lead was more than two goals. With Ohio State up by one and time running down in the fourth period, Penn State netted a pair of goals to get the win.

This outcome was pivotal for the upcoming Big Ten tournament as Penn State, Ohio State, Michigan and Johns Hopkins will need to win the tournament to qualify for the NCAA tournament. Had Ohio State won this game, they could have remained in consideration for the NCAA tournament with a single win in the Big Ten tournament.

St. Joseph’s (Thomas Halm) 14

LIU 13

The Hawks became a Phoenix, rising from the ashes of their 0-3 start to go 7-0 in Northeast Conference, clinching the top seed in the NEC tournament. After a closely contested first half, St. Joe’s turned a two goal deficit in to a three goal lead by closing out the scoring in the second quarter and opening up the scoring in the third. The last three goals of this five goal run came in just eighteen seconds of game time. LIU recovered from that rush and was able to pull within one of the Hawks on two occasions but could not flip the scoreboard.

On senior day, T”s four years of being a Hawk and the contributions of the entire Halm family were recognized.

TOWSON (Mo Sillah) 8

Delaware 16

Delaware’s five goal run in the third period provided the Blue Hen’s with more than enough of a margin to pick up the win.

Mo saw playing time in this game.

VIRGINIA (Ryan Pride) 11

Syracuse 13

Earlier this season, UVA got shellacked at the Carrier Dome 20-10. This game looked to be more of the same as a five goal run by the Orange put UVA in an early 7-2 hole. Down by four at the half, Virginia trimmed Syracuse’s lead to one late in the third period. A pair of ‘Cuse goals to end the third period and a pair to start the fourth, put the Orange back in control. Virginia was able to trim the deficit down to two goals with a three goal run, but could not finish the job.

Ryan, one of the first commits to UVA, was honored along with the 2021 graduates, was honored on Senior Day, which also was his Birthday. Ryan holds the singular distinction of holding National Championship Rings with consecutively dated years (L’17 and UVa’18).

D-I USILA POLL

1. Maryland

2. Duke

3. North Carolina

4. Notre Dame

5. Rutgers

6. Lehigh

7. Virginia

8. Georgetown

9. Syracuse

10. Denver

11. Drexel

12. Delaware

13. Navy

14. Army

15. Richmond

16. Villanova

17. Albany

18. UMBC

19. Penn State

20. Ohio State

THIS COMING WEEK

League tournaments are on the horizon as we head into the final week of the regular season. From those league tournaments we will get half the field for the NCAA tournament. This year’s NCAA tournament will include eight conference champions and eight at-large teams. Selection and seeding of the at-large pool will be challenging as so many teams played very limited non-conference schedules.

D-III

THIS WEEK’S GAMES

COLORADO COLLEGE (Max Becker) 8

Lynchburg 23

Lynchburg limited the Tigers number of possessions and enjoyed a two-to-one advantage in both shots and shots on goal.

The Tigers’ regular season has come to an end with the Tigers sporting an impressive 10-3 record. The SCAC conference tournament is next on the horizon with the Tigers facing Dallas in the first semi-final game.

COLBY COLLEGE (Miles Tonkel) 20

Connecticut College 17

Mules versus Camels. Throughout this contest the teams matched each other run for run, score for score. If one team scratched out three straight scores, the other would respond with the same. Consequently, this game was tied on twelve different occasions. Colby broke through in the fourth quarter after the game’s final tie at sixteen all, outscoring the Camels 4-1 to close out the game.

TUFTS (Kyle Amitay, Garrett Kurtz) 31

Bates 7

The Jumbos took absolute control of this game early in the second quarter as they launched an eighteen goal run that lasted until there were just over five minutes left in the game. Garrett scored the final goal of the big run and added an assist. Kyle had five ground balls.

SALISBURY (Jace Menendez) 13

St. Mary’s 4

After an even first quarter, Salisbury’s offense was rarely interrupted by a score for St. Mary’s. The Gulls six goal run from the mid-point of the third quarter into the early minutes of the fourth proved decisive.

WASHINGTON & LEE (Will Bou) 13 OT

Christopher Newport 14

Yet another D-III contest where the score was repeatedly tied and neither team could get a clear advantage. After W&L took a one-goal lead midway through the fourth period, Christopher Newport tied the game up for the twelfth and final time to force overtime.

Washington and Lee won the overtime faceoff but was unable to get a shot off before turning the ball over. CNU scored quickly in transition to get the win.

Will had an assist and four ground balls and won six of ten faceoffs.

WASHINGTON & LEE (Will Bou) 28

Randolph 0

You aren’t going to lose if the other team can’t score. Will won all four of his faceoffs and had two ground balls.

WASHINGTON & LEE (Will Bou) 24

Virginia Wesleyan 6

The Generals used a run of seven straight goals plus two runs of six straight to coast to an easy win. Will won two of six faceoffs and scooped up one ground ball.

D-III USILA POLL

1. RIT

2. Tufts

3. Salisbury

4. Lynchburg

5. Cabrini

6. York

7. Gettysburg

8. Stevenson

9. Christopher Newport

10. Williams

11. St. John Fisher

12. Franklin & Marshall

13. St. Lawrence

14. Union

15. Ursinus

16. Hampden-Sydney

17. Denison

18.Colorado College

19. Ohio Wesleyan

20 Ithaca