ARLINGTON, VA (Saturday, February 10, 2007) – Senior Kevin
Krmpotich scored
one goal and assisted on two others to lead Navy’s ice hockey team to a 4-1
victory over Villanova Saturday night in the opening round of the 30th
annual Crabpot Tournament played at the Kettler Ice Plex in Arlington, VA.
The Midshipmen will meet Liberty University for the Crabpot Tournament
championship on Sunday (February 11) at 12 noon at the Herbert Wells Ice
Rink in College Park, MD. Liberty soundly defeated the University of
Maryland in Saturday night’s other Crabpot Tournament game that was also
played at the Kettler facility.
Following a scoreless first period Saturday night, Navy got on the
scoreboard midway through the second stanza on a goal from junior Nick
Schwob, assisted by Krmpotich, at 10:08. The Mids doubled their lead to 2-0
when Krmpotich found the back of the net at 14:08, the assists going to
Schwob and senior defenseman Joe Liles.
Navy extended its lead to 3-0 early in the third period when sophomore Jeff
Martin scored at the 1:41 mark, the lone assist going to sophomore
defenseman Matt Swezey.
Midway through the third period, the Mids took a 4-0 advantage when junior
Donnie Horner took the rebound of a Krmpotich shot and fired it past
Villanova goaltender Sean Moran at 9:19. Schwob had the other assist along
with Krmpotich.
Villanova spoiled freshman Navy goaltender Eric Anderson’s bid for a shutout
when Larry Boniface scored on an Ice Cat power play at 12:25.
Anderson finished the game with 32 saves, while Moran recorded 36 stops, as
the Midshipmen outshot the Ice Cats, 40-33.
All four of Navy’s goals came on the power play, as did Villanova’s lone
tally.
With the victory, the Midshipmen improved to 18-8-1 overall this season and
13-4-1 in the Eastern Collegiate Hockey Association (ECHA). Villanova,
meanwhile, fell to 3-15-0 in the ECHA. By virtue of Saturday night’s win
over Villanova, Navy finished the regular season with 27 points, good for
third place. West Virginia fell to West Chester, 2-1, Saturday night,
leaving the Mountaineers in fourth place with 23 points.
As a result, Navy (#3 seed) will meet Lehigh (#6) in the opening round of
the ECHA tournament this Friday, February 16, at 2:30 p.m. at West Chester’s
Ice Line Arena. West Virginia (#4) will face Drexel (#5) in the other
opening round game. If the Mids defeat Lehigh, they will face either West
Chester or Rhode Island on Saturday, February 17.
PUCK POINTS: To reach the Herbert Wells Ice Rink for Sunday’s Crabpot
championship game, take Route 50 west towards the Capital Beltway/495, take
the Capital Beltway north towards Baltimore to Kenilworth Ave./Rt-201 south,
exit 23, go south on Kenilworth Ave./Rt-201 for about 3 miles to Paint
Branch Parkway (formerly Calvert Rd.), make a right onto Paint Branch
Parkway, and the Wells rink is first building on the left…the Mids will
likely be without several of their usual starters for Sunday’s contest,
including senior team captain Jay Alspach, juniors Drew Stoner and Brian
Gleason, and sophomore Nolan Anliker…Navy’s six seniors -- Krmpotich,
Alspach, Liles, Jim Doherty, Alex Sandroni, and Adam Sheppard -- were
honored in pre-game ceremonies Saturday night.
SCORING SUMMARY
FIRST PERIOD
None
SECOND PERIOD
N – Schwob (Krmpotich) 10:08
N – Krmpotich (Liles, Schwob) 14:08
THIRD PERIOD
N – Martin (Swezey) 1:41
N – Horner (Krmpotich, Schwob) 9:19
V – Boniface (Grudzinski, Ervolina) 12:25
SAVES
Moran (Villanova) 11 11 14 - 36
Anderson (NAVY) 13 7 12 - 32
SHOTS
Villanova 13 7 13 - 33
NAVY 11 13 16 - 40