Department of athletics, physical education and recreation
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Engineers Power Past Bridgewater, 6-1
Jan. 19, 2006
CAMRBIDGE, Mass. - The men's hockey team pounded Bridgewater State 6-1 on Wednesday night at Johnson Ice Arena. A meeting with winless (0-11-2) Bridgewater was just what MIT needed, as the Engineers were seeking their first win since upending the Bears over two months ago. Similar to the 7-0 trouncing of Bridgewater on November 9, the Engineers made good use of their excess power-play chances. John Bergin, Mike Kozlowski and Nick LaBounty combined for nine points, four which came on the man advantage. It took MIT all of 38 seconds to grab a 1-0 lead over Bridgewater State. John Bergin and freshman Ryan Ballentine set up Nick LaBounty for his team-leading ninth goal of the season. The Bears shifted the momentum with three power-play opportunities in the period but failed to capitalize. MIT did not make the same mistake and took a 2-0 lead on a Tim Studley power-play goal with 22 seconds left in the first. Having already committed one of hockey's capital sins twice (do not let the other team score in the first or last minute of the period), the Bear's allowed MIT's Nick LaBounty to get open for his second goal of the night and 11th of the season just 23 second into the second frame. In desperate need of a change in momentum, Bridgewater went on the power-play for the next three minutes and finally got one by MIT goalie Tom Hopkins at 13:52. That momentum was short-lived, as the Bears were assessed four consecutive penalties, including a four minute major for slashing. Again, the Engineers made the Bears pay. Junior forward Brian LaCrosse tallied his first goal of the year at 10:26. After failing to score on two power-plays at the end of the second period, the Bears had two more opportunities to begin the third. But Thomas Hopkins turned away all Bridgewater shots. MIT then added to their lead when senior Adam Shabshelowitz put home his seventh of the season at 15:30. Then at 7:33, John Bergin gave the Engineers' additional cushion, putting his team up 6-1 on the power-play. Bridgewater spent most of the remaining time on the penalty-kill and failed to generate much offense. Thomas Hopkins stopped 22 of the 23 shots he faced in the win, while Bridgewater's David Dean made 34 saves. The Bears, who accumulated 40 penalty minutes in the contest, gave themselves little chance to win. The Engineers have now outscored Bridgewater 13-1 in two games this season. Unbeaten in their last three games (1-0-2), MIT will look to remain hot against Western Connecticut State University (11-6-3) on Saturday night. The game, set to begin at 7:00 p.m., is the second of a three game homestand for the Engineers. |
