The biggest challenge for the Bobcats this weekend will be to keep their emotions high.
Last weekend, they made surprisingly quick work of the nation's No.3 ranked team, Illinois, and set the tone from the opening face off. It was some of their most spirited hockey to date.
Some might expect a let down this weekend against Robert Morris College.
But that's exactly what coach Dan Morris is trying to avoid.
Robert Morris College (13-19-2) is a pesky team that has given several league contenders fits.
They are led by one of the American Collegiate Hockey Association's most exciting scorers, winger Eriks Ozollapa. His 45 points in 34 games leads the team and is 12 points better than second-leading scorer Kevin Lee.
Aside from their high-scoring duo, the Eagles are a tight-checking team that prefers to keep the score low.
That hasn't been the case of late - they have dropped seven of their last 10 games and have allowed seven goals four times during that span.
They are always a defensive-minded team
Morris said. We just have to be opportunistic (on offense) and make the most of what we have.
Ohio was stingy defensively during last weekend's sweep of the Illini, though the 6-5 result on Friday didn't show it. The Bobcats were efficient in the neutral zone and shut down passing lanes, disrupting Illinois' fast-paced attack.
Morris said that in order to keep winning, his team has to maintain its energy level.
That's how we play (high energy) Morris said. We want to carry that energy and emotion over from the last games and keep their spirits high.
His forwards were on the attack for most of the series against Illinois, more so than earlier in the year. They took a high volume of shots and made the visiting goaltenders uncomfortable.
Morris doesn't expect much different against Robert Morris.
We took shots from everywhere Morris said. We weren't really used to that
but it worked.
We need to just take what we're given (against Robert Morris) and make the most of it.
Now that Paul Marshall is getting ready to leave for Team USA at the World University Games
the goaltending duties fall squarely on senior Chris Carlson. The coaching staff has eased him into the role and now the job is his.
Morris said he expects Carlson to start the next three series
all on back-to-back nights. Wedged in there are the Central States Collegiate Hockey League playoffs.
I expect him to be for the next six or seven games, Morris said.
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27045,2009-02-11 22:11:00,Hockey: 'Cats strive to extend streak,After a high-energy win against one of the nation's best teams (Illinois)
the Bobcats continue their playoff drive against Robert Morris College.,The biggest challenge for the Bobcats this weekend will be to keep their emotions high.
Last weekend
they made surprisingly quick work of the nation's No.3 ranked team
Illinois
and set the tone from the opening face off. It was some of their most spirited hockey to date.
Some might expect a let down this weekend against Robert Morris College.
But that's exactly what coach Dan Morris is trying to avoid.
Robert Morris College (13-19-2) is a pesky team that has given several league contenders fits.
They are led by one of the American Collegiate Hockey Association's most exciting scorers
winger Eriks Ozollapa. His 45 points in 34 games leads the team and is 12 points better than second-leading scorer Kevin Lee.
Aside from their high-scoring duo
