The Ohio hockey team got its chance this weekend to set the record straight against No. 5 Lindenwood, winning 2-1 in overtime Friday and 4-1 Saturday.
Last year, Lindenwood (6-2-0) beat Ohio (8-0-0) in both games of its season-opening series, but as a first-year American Collegiate Hockey Association team, the Lions were ineligible to play in the tournament.
We won nationals last year and there was always that question mark
if they had been there so it was important for us to come out there and win defenseman Joe Branco said.
And Ohio had not forgotten Lindenwood's sweep at Bird Arena, which came in Lindenwood's first two games in the ACHA.
Ever since last year when we got swept our home-opening weekend
all the returning guys
we just had a bitter taste in our mouths
goalkeeper Ryan Baksh said.
The game ended with an overtime goal by freshman forward Jim Fuhs.
One of our goals was to limit the penalties and just play hockey
and we did that Friday night
coach Dan Morris said.
Saturday night saw 24 penalties, including 12 for Ohio. Questionable referee calls and the growing animosity between the two teams contributed to the high number of penalties.
They tried to draw us into penalties so they could score
Branco said.
Lindenwood forward Timothy Toal was disqualified in the second period for unsportsmanlike conduct after pushing another player on the way to the penalty box and arguing with referees from the box.
In the final minutes of the game, Lindenwood defenseman Kevin Stephens was ejected and Lindenwood coach Derek Schaub was disqualified for game misconduct for, among other things, throwing a water bottle across the ice.
Ohio's first two goals were scored within a minute of each other, with two minutes left in the first period. Branco grabbed the puck off a rebound and scored. Defenseman Jordan Levy made the next goal on a power play. Lindenwood scored on a second-period power play, while Ohio scored twice in the third period.
(Lindenwood) had power plays left and right and they couldn't capitalize on any of them
Branco said.
Despite all the penalties, Lindenwood scored only one goal during Saturday's game. Lindenwood out-shot Ohio in every period Saturday, but got only one shot past Baksh.
The defensemen played really well in front of me
which allowed me to see the shots
