There seems to be a pattern. Slow starts with a frenzied, high energy effort in the 3rd period. The other haunting occurrences are goals being scored in the last minute of a game. The Warriors can play with anybody if they are tenacious from the opening whistle. Last season we had some difficult regular season losses, but the players have to remember how well ESU played in the playoffs.
Just under 3 minutes into the 1st period Alvernia scored when a loose puck was shoveled to the front of the net where an open AU player fired a wrister into the net. ESU 0 AU 1. Six seconds later AU scored again. On the face-off, after the goal the winger carried the puck into the ESU zone, and wristed a shot from above the right circle into the right top shelf. ESU 0 AU 2. Two and a half minutes later an Alvernia player received a pass as he came off the right boards and let go a wicked wrister. With five and a half minutes gone in the first period it was ESU 0 Alvernia 3. On a power play with just over 5 minutes left in the 1st period the Warriors got one back on a power play as Tim Brown took a shot from the top of the right circle. Jon Fisher, was parked at the net, and as Fisher was hit he got the loose puck to Bob McMillan in the slot and he buried the puck up high over the goalie. ESU 1 AU 3. Two minutes later Matt Denega gave Ryan Malandra a neutral zone pass. Malandra used his speed to go to the net. His shot was stopped, but Denega following the play and chipped the rebound in the goal. ESU 2 AU 3.
In the second period, half way through the period AU took a two goal lead on a power play when a pass from behind the goal line went to a AU player open down low who put a wrist shot on the long side. ESU 2 AU 4. Just after the Warriors had killed off a one and half minute 5 on 3 Alvernia took back a 3 goal lead. The puck was turned over near the blue line and the AU player fired a pass to an open player on the edge of the crease who tipped in the pass. ESU 2 AU 5.
The 3rd period was uneventful until about half way through the period, Joe Iannacone stopped the puck at the point and cranked a slap shot that hit the twine beating the Bob McMillan screened goalie. ESU 3 AU 5. The Warriors scored a short handed goal when the pressured AU point man turned over the puck and Malandra and Denega skated in on a 2 on 1. Malandra went toward the right post and sent a backhander at the goal. The rebound was put in by Denega standing on the door step. ESU 4 AU 5. There were 3 1/2 minutes left in the game and Joe Deery was using his speed to hassle the Alvernia defenseman who lost control of the puck into the high slot where Chris deIturrondo one timed a blistering shot and the biscuit blew past the basket keeper. ESU 5 AU 5. Just 38 seconds were left on the clock when the final goal of the game, that made the net bulge, and ESU fans groan. The AU defenseman sent the puck airborne from his goal line to the neutral zone. Both Warrior defenders tried to make a play on the puck, but the rubber disc got by and AU had a 2 on none and a wrister was left in the back of the net. Final score ESU 5 Alvernia 6.
