ODENTON, MD (Friday, January 12, 2007) – Navy’s ice hockey team jumped to
a
3-0 first period lead, then overcame a somewhat lackluster third period, en
route to a 4-2 non-league win over the University of Pittsburgh Friday night
at Piney Orchard Ice Rink.
With the victory, the Midshipmen improved their season record to 11-6-1,
while the Pitt Panthers fell to 5-14-0.
Senior Kevin Krmpotich got Navy on the scoreboard midway through the first
period with an even strength goal at 8:53, the lone assist going to
classmate Joe Liles. Liles extended the Mids’ lead a short time later, at
10:44, with an unassisted power play goal, and Navy took a 3-0 advantage at
the 18:02 mark thanks to a Nick Schwob tally, the single assist going to Jon
Westerman.
Pitt trimmed its deficit to 3-1 early in the second stanza on an even
strength goal from Matt Panek, who pounced on a rebound and fired it past
Navy netminder Jeremy Estevez at 1:58. But the Mids regained their
three-goal margin later in the same period when sophomore Nick Hinkley beat
the Panthers’ goaltender Ed Nusser at 13:12, assists going to linemates
Derek Johnson and Drew Stoner.
Pitt controlled much of the third period action, out-shooting Navy 10-5, and
managed to cut the Navy lead to 4-2 with an unassisted goal from Matt
Dzodovsky with just 1:46 remaining in regulation time.
The Midshipmen controlled the puck over the games’ final minute-and-a-half,
preventing Pitt from pulling Nusser for en extra attacker.
Estevez, a freshman making his first start in goal for Navy, played well and
finished the night with 27 saves. Nusser recorded 24 saves for the
Panthers.
Referee Sal Mazolla called 16 minor penalties, 12 of them against the
Midshipmen and just four against visiting Pitt. Navy was 1-for-3 on the
power play, while the Panthers were 0-for-11.
Navy is in action again tonight (Saturday, January 13) when Eastern
Collegiate Hockey Association (ECHA) rival Drexel visits the Piney Orchard
Ice Rink. Opening face-off is set for 8:00 p.m.
For those unable to make it to Piney Orchard, the game (and all remaining
Navy hockey games) will be broadcast on the TEAMLINE network. Just go to
the TEAMLINE web site at the following URL address:
http://www.teamline.cc/teampage. Navy’s team code is 5415.
Puck Points: Navy’s Friday night line-up featured the return of forward Eric
Smitley, who wore jersey #24, since his old #14 has been taken by sophomore
Alex Wallis…several other Mids who hadn’t seen much ice time also dressed
and played Friday night, including Wallis, Estevez, Aaron Erzinger (#21),
and Calen Mims (who wore #30 when his assigned #29 was missing in action
just before game time…Drexel’s Dragons will be coming to Piney Orchard
Saturday night looking for a little revenge for Navy’s 6-3 win in
Philadelphia the night before the Army-Navy football game…Drexel is 9-3-0 in
the ECHA, compared to Navy’s 7-3-1, but the Dragons have not yet faced West
Chester or Rhode Island…last night, Drexel lost at Delaware, 6-1…Navy hockey
returned to TEAMLINE radio Friday night, with veteran Josh Martinelli
calling the play-by-play and assistant officer representative LT Jay Bijeau
handling the color commentary…the two were also ably assisted with technical
assistance from faculty rep Dr. Don Horner.
SCORING SUMMARY
FIRST PERIOD
N – Krmpotich (Liles) 8:53
N – Liles (unassisted) 10:44
N – Schwob (Westerman) 18:02
SECOND PERIOD
P – Panek (Lazzaro) 1:58
N – Hinkley (Johnson, Stoner) 13:12
THIRD PERIOD
P – Dzodovsky (unassisted) 18:14
SAVES
Nusser (Pitt) 6 13 5 - 24
Estevez (NAVY) 8 10 9 - 27
SHOTS
Pitt 8 11 10 - 29
NAVY 9 14 5 - 28