ANNAPOLIS, MD (Saturday, February 02, 2008) – Navy’s ice hockey team put 67 shots on goal but couldn’t overcome a three-goal third period deficit as the Midshipmen lost to Lehigh, 4-2, Saturday night at the McMullen Hockey Arena in Annapolis.

 

The visiting Ice Hawks took a 2-0 first period lead thanks to even strength goals from Rob Rosenhaus at 13:17 and Greg Shurts at 18:31.  Lehigh increased its lead to 3-0 midway through the second stanza with Shurts’ second tally of the night, coming at the 12:34 mark.

 

Navy (now 13-16-1) came out of the locker room for the start of the third period with a level of intensity that had been lacking in the game’s first 40 minutes.  That intensity paid off when senior Nick Schwob scored just 30 seconds after the opening face-off, assisted by classmate Adam Shields.  It was Schwob’s team leading 22^nd goal of the season.

 

Less than two minutes later, at 2:25, the Mids cut the deficit to 3-2 when junior John Patrick Culliton carried the puck over the center red line and fed it to Daniel, who fired an initial shot that was stopped by Ice Hawk goaltender Chris Langstaff.  But junior Alex Wallis pounced on the rebound and put it behind Langstaff for his fourth goal of the season.

 

Navy kept the offensive pressure on for the remainder of the period but was unable to pull sophomore netminder Eric Anderson for a sixth attacker until just 16 seconds were left in regulation time.  Unfortunately, Lehigh’s Casey Castignetti swiped the puck at center ice and fed it to Rosenhaus, who skated in alone on the empty net for the game’s final goal with just 6.8 second left on the clock.

 

Anderson finished the game with 23 saves for the Mids, while his counterpart Langstaff recorded 65 saves for Lehigh.  Only three penalties were called, two against the Ice Hawks and one against Navy.  Neither team scored on its power play chances.

 

Navy is in action again this Wednesday night (February 6) when Georgetown University visits the McMullen Hockey Arena.  Game time is 7:30 p.m.  Next weekend Navy will host the 29^th annual Crabpot Tournament on Friday and Saturday, February 8 and 9.

 

SCORING SUMMARY

 

Lehigh              2          1          1          -           4

NAVY             0          0          2          -           2

 

First Period

L – Rosenhaus (Shurts, Castignetti) 13:17

L – Shurts (Rosenhaus, Bernache) 18:31

 

Second Period

L – Shurts (Castignetti, Rosenhaus) 12:34

 

Third Period

N – Schwob 22 (Shields) 0:30

N – Wallis (Daniel, Culliton) 2:25

L – Rosenhaus (Castignetti) 19:53

 

 

SAVES

Langstaff (Lehigh)         22        24        19        -           65

Anderson (NAVY)       12        3          8          -           23

 

SHOTS

Lehigh                          14        4          9          -           27

NAVY                         22        24        21        -           67