ANNAPOLIS, MD (Friday, October 26, 2007) - Navy's ice hockey team kept it close for two periods, but the University of Rhode Island scored three unanswered third period goals to break open a close game en route to a 6-2 victory over the Midshipmen Friday night before an estimated crowd of 400 at the McMullen Hockey Arena in Annapolis.

With the loss, Navy’s record dropped to 5-5 overall and 0-5 in the Eastern States Collegiate Hockey League (ESCHL).  URI, meantime, is now 7-0 overall and 3-0 in the ESCHL.  Rhode Island is currently ranked #3 in the nation in the latest American Collegiate Hockey Association (ACHA) poll.  Navy was ranked #19 in that same poll, which was released before last weekend's home-and-home series with Drexel.

The same two teams meet again Saturday at 11 a.m., immediately following a formal 9:30 a.m. dedication ceremony for the Thornton D. and Elizabeth S. Hooper Brigade Sports Complex - the facility which includes the McMullen Hockey Arena.
 
Navy actually broke on top Friday night when junior defenseman Matt Swezey found senior Nick Schwob alone in front of the URI goal, and Schwob fired a shot past Ram goaltender Andrew Lisi at the 16:56 mark to put the Mids ahead, 1-0.

Rhode Island grabbed a 2-1 lead early in the second stanza, thanks to a pair of shorthanded goals within 10 seconds of each other -– the first from Peter Ducharme at 3:48 and the second from James Gaffney at 3:58.

The Midshipmen pulled even later in the period when Swezey recorded an unassisted power play goal at 15:32.  But the visiting Rams took a 3-2 lead into the second intermission, thanks to a Ben Herring power play goal with just 6.4 seconds showing on the McMullen Hockey Arena scoreboard clock.

URI put the game away in the third period with three unanswered goals: Cory Manley at 1:57, Matt Wodecki at 6:02, and Manley again at 10:43.

Navy head coach Mike Fox pulled sophomore goaltender Eric Anderson with less than a minute left in the third period and the Mids enjoying a 5-on-3 power play, but Navy was unable to get a third goal.  The otherwise well played game was marred by several penalties in the game’s final two minutes, resulting from “chippy” play and numerous skirmishes between the two rivals.

Anderson finished the night with 45 saves, while his counterpart Lisi recorded 37, as the Rams outshot the Mids by a 51-39 margin.

Saturday morning's 9:30 a.m. dedication ceremony is expected to draw USNA Superintendent Vice Admiral Jeffery L. Fowler and NAAA Director of Athletics Chet Gladchuk, among a host of other distinguished officials, supporters, alumni, and guests.

 

SCORING SUMMARY

URI               0        3        3        -        6

NAVY            1        1        0        -        2

First Period

N – Schwob (Swezey) 16:56

Second Period

RI – Ducharme (unassisted) 3:48  SH

RI – J. Gaffney (S. Gaffney) 3:58  SH

N – Swezey (unassisted) 15:32

RI – Herring (J. Gaffney) 19:53

Third Period

RI – Manley (Herring, Wodecki) 1:57

RI – Wodecki (Herring) 6:02

RI – Manley (unassisted) 10:43

SAVES

Lisi (URI)                 10      9        18      -        37

Anderson (NAVY)      10      16      19      -        45

SHOTS

URI                         10      19      22      -        51

NAVY                      11      10      18      -        39