Hockey wins close one against Weber
The Aggie hockey team won its second straight game Friday at the Eccles Ice Arena, downing the Weber State Wildcats’ D-I squad, 3-2.
Bryan Osterheast helped the Aggies off to a winning start with the game’s first goal and assist from Maciej Michalik.
By the end of the first period, the Aggies and Wildcats were tied at one.
The second period looked like it was going to remain scoreless for both teams until Paul Reinhardt stunned fans with a goal with 1.7 seconds left in the period. Kent Arsenault assisted the in the play, which made the score 2-1.
The Aggies had many breakaway opportunities to rush the WSU net in the second, but they couldn’t convert. The Ags had no trouble tromping through the WSU defense, but, although WSU aimed to stand strong defensively, at the same time they couldn’t balance out any effective offensive strategy against the Ags.
Walter Voisard sent a wrist shot off a breakaway that was covered up by WSU goalkeeper Kyle Gover, causing some controversy.
Voisard said after a few moments, he knew it wasn’t a goal, but he mentioned he took a stick to the groin by a Wildcat on his way back to the bench.
Entering the third period, Reinhardt said the team was hyped up for about the first two minutes in the locker room and decided it was best to change up the pace and strategy from what they played for the first two periods.
William Winsa dominated most of the breakaways in the third, and Justin Lupton was ready to slap in the rebound.
Aggie Matt Geer showed off some stylish passes and rebound shot attempts while in the pipes with Lupton.
WSU matched the Aggies’ point lead with 18:34 in the third period, tying the game 2-2.
“After that second goal I knew I should have had it,” goalkeeper Dan Cornelius said.
Just under a minute later, though, Geer regained advantage over an earlier wild shot to set up a wrist shot that slid past the low glove side of Gover. It was the third goal for the Aggies, and it sent WSU home with a loss.
Dan Cornelius broke in the regular season game defending 33 of 35 shots on goal.
The enforcer of the night was Jay McFadden, who looked as though he was out to settle a personal score against every Wildcat he could get his hands on.
“They’re not as good as I thought they’d be,” McFadden said.
-Justin.ebbs@aggiemail.usu.edu