After last weekend's dominating performance over St. Louis, the Ohio hockey team found itself in an unfamiliar position Friday night. Trailing 2-0 to Michigan-Dearborn after the first period, the Bobcats appeared flat and had allowed a 5-3 shorthanded goal.
In the first period we made a lot of mental mistakes
Ohio coach Dan Morris said. It's my job as a coach to make sure we come back and play mentally tough hockey.
The slow start was soon forgotten, as the Bobcats (5-1, 4-0 Central States Collegiate Hockey League) would outscore the Wolves 13-2 in the rest of the series, winning both games, 9-4 and 4-0 respectively.
We were going to do whatever it took in that second period to get the lead and hold onto it right-wing Paul Warriner said.
Following the slow first period, the Bobcats took control in the second, scoring six goals, including three in a 10-minute span.
After the second period everyone got in the flow in the game defenseman David Moyer said.
Following their 6-2 lead after the second period, the Bobcats were able to hold on to the lead, winning the game 9-4. Moyer led the Bobcat charge, netting two goals and two assists. Forward Brandon Steffek also added two goals in the victory.
In the second game the Bobcats avoided a slow start, taking control with an early 1-0 lead.
(Friday) we only dressed four defensive players
and we allowed four goals
Morris said. Tonight we dressed our regular six defensive players and challenged them to allow fewer than four goals.
Defense dominated a scoreless second period, and the Bobcats put Michigan-Dearborn away with 3 goals in the third period for the victory. Right wing Brandon Hanley helped ignite the third-period charge recording a goal and an assist while forward Jeff Jepson added two assists in the 4-0 victory.
There was never a sense of panic
but we all knew with one shot it could be a tie game
Jepson said. We stuck with our game plan and carried it through.
We hadn't been in a tight game in a while
and we challenged our guys to come out and win the third period
Morris said.
Goalie Chris Carlson continued his streak of impressive performances, recording a shutout on 15 saves.
The defense did really well to control all perimeter shots
Carlson said. Before every game I run through all the big games I've been in and use it to my advantage.
