M3-CNU JUMP ON M3-RICHMOND, CLING TO 4-1 WIN
The University of Richmond Spiders came into the first conference game of the year with a 1-1 record. With a total of eight new players this year and solid core of returning guys the Spiders looked to gain their first conference win against defending champs CNU at CNU this Saturday. The Captains of CNU would not have it though as they ripped three quick goals past netminder sophomore Ben Napierala in the first ten minutes. The Spiders simply came out flat and after the first intermission the score was 3-0 with shot totals of 24-4 in favor of the captains.
Coach Silver made some critical adjustments on the forecheck and neutral zone play and the Spiders went into the second period looking like a totally new team. Offensive pressure was sustained multiple times, but the Spiders couldn't buy a goal. They came close when Junior defenseman Sam (Frodo) Blakely took one of his famous wrist shots from the top of the circles. The puck rang of the left post and then the right before being swept away by a wary CNU defenseman. After the second period the score remained 3-0, but there was life in the Spiders.
The Spiders skated into the third period, maintaining their momentum from the second. Halfway through the period the Spiders gained a much needed powerplay and fresh legs were sent on the ice. The passing of freshman, Trevor McGee and Brendan May, dazzled the spectators as they cycled the zone looking for an open shot. FInally after mainting the zone for nearly the entirety of the powerplay, McGee found a wide open defenseman Dean Klein in front of the net who buried the open look. The spiders were looking at a 3-1 game with enough time to make a comeback. A near tip-in goal from Junior Michael (Blaumer) Blaum rolled across the goal line before, once again, was thwarted by an active CNU defenseman. The Spiders would pull their goaltender with a minute left, desperate to tie the game. However, after a faceoff win by CNU the wing dumped the puck off the glass and it would roll all the way down into the Spider net.
The game would end at a final tally of 4-1, but the Spiders showed a lot of promise and heart against defending conference champs and look forward to their game next week where they face off against M3- George Mason University.
