NEWS

NYU Hockey Loses Weekend Series Against Liberty University

By Hunter Estevez

New York, NY — The New York University Violets lost the weekend series against Liberty University at Sky Rink at Chelsea Piers on November 16th and 17th. NYU’s record falls to 3-7 on the season.

NYU went into this past weekend’s series hoping to make up some ground in the ESCHL standings and national rankings. On Friday night, the Violets & Flames skated to a scoreless first period. In the second period, Liberty buried a power play goal while freshman Tyler Ekstein was in the box for tripping at 8:36. Liberty was back on the power play at 11:55 when Senior John Kowalewski was called for elbowing. Another power play goal ended the second period 2-0 in favor of the Flames. Two Liberty goals early in the third period were followed by multiple penalties on both sides from the growing intensity. The game ended in a 5-0 Liberty win. Junior goaltender Patrick Cavanaugh made 38 saves in the losing effort.

Tension continued into Saturday’s game as an eventful first period unfolded. Liberty potted the first goal of the game before NYU was forced to kill two 5-minute major penalties in just the first period. Soon after Liberty’s first goal, Junior Sam Rappaport was called for a 5-minute major hit from behind where Liberty was able to score one power play goal. Just minutes after the first 5-minute major expired, NYU goaltender Patrick Cavanaugh was called for butt-ending resulting in a 5-minute major and a game misconduct. On the same play John Kowalewski received a boarding penalty putting the Violets down two men. Junior goaltender Adam Salisbury replaced Cavanaugh in net and made some big saves early in the penalty kill.  Liberty was able to score once on the 5 on 3 and then again during the conclusion of the 5minute major. The first period would end with a 4-0 Liberty lead. Liberty would add another goal in the 3rd period to win 5-0 and sweep the season series. After replacing Cavanaugh in the first period, Salisbury made 15 saves on 18 shots.

“I don’t think the results tell the entire story,” said NYU Hockey Head Coach Chris Cosentino. “The effort was there from our guys, but the execution certainly was not and that is something we will work on. Liberty is a top team in the country and proved that we have a lot of work ahead of us to compete with teams of that caliber.”

NYU returns to action on November 30th when they take on William Paterson at the Ice Vault in New Jersey.