Coach Dan Morris knew his team's depth would be a factor in the No. 3 Ohio hockey team's opening game of the 2005 American Collegiate Hockey Association Tournament against No. 18 Mercyhurst -and right he was.
Two goals from senior Joe Branco and sophomore Paul Warriner highlighted the Bobcats' 8-3 win against the Lakers yesterday, while four other Ohio players found the back of the net.
Our depth was really important
Morris said. They came out and could compete with us well but as the game went on they became fatigued. That's key in a game like that. After they got tired they were less effective. Freshman Jim Fuhs -a 2005 Central States Collegiate Hockey League All-Star selection -got Ohio on the board first, and Branco stretched the Bobcats' first period lead to two.
They were a little nervous at the start and we wanted to take advantage of that
Morris said.
Mercyhurst fought back to tie the score before the period's conclusion, getting a goal from Mickey Girardi-the ACHA's regular season point leader with 102-and Brent Klimow.
Warriner would get his first goal of the night before the Lakers answered to again knot the score, but the rest of the quarterfinal game would be all Bobcats. Travis Preble and Brandon Hanley each scored before the end of the second period to give Ohio a 5-3 lead.
The scoring in the third period again was opened by Warriner while Bob DiPippa scored his first of the Tournament to stretch the Ohio lead to 7-3. Branco scored his second of the night to put the final nail in the coffin for the Lakers.
Net minder Ryan Baksh -the CSCHL Tournament MVP -made 21 saves on 24 shots while the Bobcats' offense peppered Mercyhurst with 41 shots.
Baksh played well
Morris said. He made the first saves -the first two goals on him were rebounds that he made the initial saves for and the third was a breakaway that formed when the puck bounced over Josh Granum's stick -what are you going to do about that? Ohio will face No. 6 Michigan Dearborn, who advanced with a 3-0 win against No. 11 Iowa State, at 1 p.m. today in the semifinals. Ohio defeated the Wolves, 9-1 and 8-2, in games earlier this season in Bird Arena.
It was early in the year and we've looked forward to competing against them later in the year
Morris said. They've obviously improved a lot over the course of the year and they beat Illinois
Penn State and Rhode Island. We're the only top-four team they haven't beaten.
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