Sports

Black Bears hockey looks to jumpstart offense

Abbott, men's hockey hosts defending CHA champion, Purple Eagles pose a difficult challenge

By Steven McCarthy

Posted on Oct. 30, 2008, at 12:00 a.m.

Life is not always fair in the game of hockey.

Coach Tim Whitehead’s young University of Maine squad learned that first hand last weekend, losing 5-0 in Friday’s home opener, and suffering a frustrating 2-1 loss the following night, despite limiting Northeastern to just 13 shots on goal.

“I thought we played really well the first night too,” senior defenseman Matt Duffy said. “It’s just tough bounces. The second night we definitely played great defense and got the dominance of the shots, and we cleaned pucks out and really took pride in our D-Zone.”

Next on the schedule for the Black Bears is a visit by Niagara University, from the College Hockey America conference. The Purple Eagles of Niagara Falls, N.Y. are coming off a season in which they qualified for the NCAA tournament, falling to top-ranked Michigan in the first round of regional play. UMaine did not face Niagara last year.

The defending CHA champions were projected as one of the top 21 programs in the nation in preseason polls. They are 2-3-1 heading in to the weekend after shutting out Hockey East opponent Merrimack 1-0 on Saturday.

“I think they’re going to be a really good team,” said UMaine freshman forward Spencer Abbott, who notched his first collegiate goal in Saturday’s game. “I think they’re going to be similar to Northeastern, and we’re definitely going to have to work hard to beat them. We can’t take them lightly, that’s for sure.”

To be successful this weekend, Abbott and his teammates know they must find a way to generate more offense. The Black Bears have scored just four goals in as many games to start the season.

“We had our share of shots. We just didn’t really get all our bodies to the net, and that’s what we’ve got to do this weekend,” Abbott said.

The Black Bears have taken 110 shots at opposing goaltenders in their first four games, led by freshman forward Gustav Nyquist with 15, but have managed just two goals in 26 power play opportunities.

“We’ve just got to work on getting shots through traffic, stepping side to side and trying to get shots through and that will help us a lot,” Abbott advised.

Abbott has certainly contributed his share to the offense in the early season, contributing a goal and two assists for a team-high three points.

“I credit it to the defense and my wingers,” Abbott said. “Everyone’s working hard. We’re just not putting up as many goals as we expected, but we will. It’ll come.”

Niagara will likely be difficult to score on, anchored by a quality backstop in senior goaltender Juliano Pagliero. Pagliero is the returning starter, coming off a year in which he was eighth in the nation among goaltenders in save percentage, 22nd in goals allowed average, at 2.33, and sixth in winning percentage. He also recorded four shutouts in 29 starts.

The Purple Eagles have compiled 13 goals in six games, while allowing 19. The forwards are led by returning team points leader Vince Rocco, who had 14 goals and 32 assists last season. Rocco was selected as the 2008 Preseason CHA Player of the Year. The senior currently has a goal and two assists on the season.

Rocco’s contribution is not currently tops for his team as he trails teammates Chris Moran and Brian Dowd, each with five points, and Sam Goodwin with four. Eight different players have contributed to the scoring for the Purple Eagles.

Niagara also receives significant offense from their blueliners, led by junior Ryan Annesley who had the most points scored by a defenseman in the CHA last year with seven goals and 12 assists for 19 points.

“They’re a well-rounded team. They’re well coached. They’re a team that is not going to be intimidated coming in here, but that’s what we need,” Whitehead insisted. “These types of challenges are going to help our young team gain the experience we need to play well down the stretch.”

Whitehead was pleased with the effort shown by his team against Northeastern, particularly in Saturday’s game, and anticipates a competitive series from Niagara.

“They’re always a tough opponent, so this is another opportunity for us to be challenged and improve and certainly we’re excited to play at home,” Whitehead said. “The crowd last weekend was absolutely fabulous, and we’re looking to earn some more respect this weekend.”

The two teams will face off for the first game on Halloween night at 7 p.m., and again Saturday at 7:30 p.m.

This entry was posted on Thursday, October 30th, 2008, 12:00 am. You can follow any responses to this article through the RSS feed.