Hockey goes 1-2 over the weekend
The bad news for USU hockey is they were defeated in the first two games of their Colorado road-trip, 5-4 to the University of Colorado and 9-3 against Denver University. The good news is they won their final game 6-5 over the Colorado State Rams.
More bad news for the Aggies came in the first period of the first game against Colorado when goalie and team co-captain Greg Finatti sustained a concussion and Scotty Beard was forced into action.
The next night Finatti felt well enough to start, but took another blow and had to come out.
Speaking of his replacement in goal, Finatti said, “He came in and finished the game [against Denver University] and got the start Saturday. He played an awesome game filling in and got the victory versus Colorado State.”
Roberto Leo scored twice, with one short-handed goal, for the Aggies Thursday night as they took a 3-1 lead in the first period. But in the second, things would unravel as the refs sent a steady stream of blue jerseys to the penalty box and the Buffs took advantage.
In the third, USU scored and tightened its defense up to make the game 5-4, but ultimately failed to tie it up. The skating Aggies were outshot 48-30 in that game.
After Finatti was reinjured the next night and things got out of hand against Denver, the team responded well on the last leg of their trip, rallying around Beard.
Finatti said while the losses were frustrating, the team is learning and improving with each game. He also said he was impressed with Beard’s play.
“We’ve had the lead every game going into the second period and we held [the Rams] off on Saturday,” he said.
Against CSU, the Aggies fought back for the road win with a tying goal from Aaron Schimmel and a game-winner from rookie-of-the-year candidate Kent Arsenault. It was Arsenault’s second game-winner of the young season, he also broke Weber State fan’s heart in overtime earlier this year.
“I think we’ve figured out our problems; our coaching staff has shortened up the bench,” Finatti said. “People have to earn playing time now and with the lineup of guys we had Saturday night we can beat any team.”
That improved lineup will be playing a three-game homestand in the raucous Eccles Ice Arena. Long Beach is on deck for Oct. 13, followed by Utah the next night and UVSC on Oct. 20.