COLLEGE PARK, MD (Sunday, January 21, 2007) – Navy’s ice hockey team
overcame an early 3-0 deficit and bounced back with five late goals to
defeat Towson, 5-3, in a key Eastern Collegiate Hockey Association clash
Sunday afternoon at the Herbert Wells Ice Rink in College Park, MD.
With the victory, the Midshipmen improved to 14-7-1 overall and 9-3-1-0 in
the Eastern Collegiate Hockey Association (ECHA), which leaves them tied
with West Virginia for third place in the league standings.
Towson’s Tigers, meanwhile, fell to 3-17-1-1 overall and 3-12-1-1 in the
ECHA.
Towson got on the scoreboard first when sophomore forward Bobby Plant stole
a Navy clearing pass and drilled a low shot past Navy netminder Eric
Anderson at the 6:14 mark in the first period.
In the second stanza, the Tigers doubled their lead to 2-0 when Plant
drilled a high rising shot past a screened Anderson at 13:30 while the teams
were at even strength. Towson extended its advantage to 3-0 a short time
later when freshman forward Michael Emmet skated in on a breakaway and fired
a wrist shot into the back of the net at the 14:58 mark, while the Tigers
were on a power play.
Navy got on the scoreboard late in the second period when junior forward
Kevin Krmpotich fed the puck to Jon Westerman, who put it past Towson’s
senior goaltender Jeff Mekelburg at 17:01 while the Tigers were trying to
kill off a 5-minute major penalty.
The Mids pulled within 3-2 early in the third period when junior forward
Nick Schwob put the puck off Mekelburg’s pads and across the goal line at
6:53 while Navy was on a power play.
Navy then pulled even at 3-3 later in the third period when sophomore
defenseman Matt Swezey scored on a goalmouth scramble at the 13:22 mark
while the teams were at even strength. It was Swezey’s first goal of the
season.
The Midshipmen completed their amazing comeback with just under two minutes
left in regulation time when senior center Kevin Krmpotich picked up the
puck shortly after emerging from the penalty box and beat Mekelburg at
18:04.
Krmpotich finished out the scoring with an empty net tally with less than a
minute left, at 19:10.
Navy’s Anderson finished with 18 saves, while Towson’s Mekelburg -- who
played an outstanding game for the Tigers -- recorded 54 saves, as the Mids
outshot the black-and-gold clad visitors by a wide 59-21 margin. In the
third period alone, when Navy completely dominated the action, the Mids
outshot Towson, 25-4.
The Mids are idle until next weekend, when they face Lehigh and Rutgers in a
pair of key ECHA match-ups (see full schedule below).
SCORING SUMMARY
FIRST PERIOD
T – Plant (unassisted) 6:14
SECOND PERIOD
T – Plant (Quader, Trantin) 13:30
T – Emmet (Wetzel) 14:58
N – Westerman 2 (Krmpotich) 17:01
THIRD PERIOD
N – Schwob 18 (Krmpotich, Doherty) 6:53
N – Swezey 1 (Anliker) 13:22
N – Krmpotich 18 (Hinkley) 18:04
N – Krmpotich 19 (Schwob) 19:10
SAVES
Mekelburg (Towson) 19 14 21 - 54
Anderson (NAVY) 10 4 4 - 18
SHOTS
Towson 11 6 4 - 21
NAVY 19 15 25 - 59
PUCK POINTS: Injuries kept three regular Navy starters out of the
lineup…team captain Jay Alspach (ankle), Drew Stoner (shoulder), and Jeff
Martin (concussion) were all sidelined on Sunday…as a result, Keegan
Kinkade, Aaron Erzinger, Eric Smitley, and Adam Shields all dressed and saw
significant playing time.
Navy’s remaining schedule is as follows:
Sat., Jan 27 vs. Lehigh University at Piney Orchard, Odenton, MD, 8:00 p.m.
Sun., Jan 28 vs. Rutgers University at Tucker Road, Fort Washington, MD,
Noon
(Skate With Navy Hockey Day)
Fri., Feb 2 vs. West Chester at Piney Orchard, Odenton, MD, 8:00 p.m.
Sat., Feb 3 vs. Scranton at Wells Ice Rink, College Park, MD, 4:00 p.m.
CRAB POT TOURNAMENT
Sat., Feb 10 Navy vs. Villanova at Capitals Kettler IcePlex, Arlington, VA,
7:45 p.m.
(Senior Day)
Sat., Feb 10 Maryland vs. Liberty at Capitals Kettler IcePlex, Arlington,
VA, 8:15 p.m.
Sun., Feb 11 Crab Pot Championship Game at Wells Ice Rink, College Park, MD,
Noon
Feb. 16-18 ECHA Playoffs at Ice Line in West Chester, PA.
Friday games will both be at 2:30 (3rd seed vs. 6th seed and 4th seed vs.
5th seed)