Central Oklahoma fought back Saturday to claim a series split against the Bobcats.
Ohio (25-3-1, 11-1-0 Central States Collegiate Hockey League) skated to a 4-1 victory Friday over the visiting Bronchos. Defenseman Mark Tracy's goal four minutes into the first period gave the Bobcats a lead that they never relinquished. Zach Tisdale and Josh Fodor padded the lead in the second period before Eric Jansen scored the Bronchos' only goal of the game. Ryan Tessmer scored on the power play midway through the final frame to secure the victory for the Bobcats. Tyler Pilmore and Michael Schultz each had two assists.
Friday's game was clean as the teams combined for only four penalties.
There's a lot of respect out there from the players for each other
coach Dan Morris said. So in that sense the referee really doesn't need to do much other than drop the puck and call offsides.
The Bobcats outshot the Bronchos 15-3 in the third period of the game.
We never did really get on track in the third period at all Central Oklahoma coach Craig McAlister said.
Shots aren't everything
but if you can't get enough energy and you can't get enough shots on net
you're not going to get enough scoring chances. If you don't get enough scoring chances
you can't win the game.
Saturday was a very different story for both teams, as Central Oklahoma claimed a 3-2 road win over the Bobcats. Tisdale's first-period power play goal put the Bobcats ahead early, but the Bronchos fought back.
In the second period, Pat Higgins tied the game, and Matt Cohn put Central Oklahoma ahead on the power play. Schultz tied the game at two before the Bronchos' Brent Block netted the winning goal with six minutes to play.
I think we thought things were going to be smooth sailing from the first period on
Morris said. There was a void in our game tonight
and we paid the price for it.
The teams combined for 20 penalties (10 apiece) and 53 minutes in the penalty box. But what might have been the most significant infraction was not called. The Bobcats were attacking late in the third period when Broncho goaltender Justin Sgro dislodged the net with 11.8 seconds remaining.
According to Rule 6, Section 10 of the American Collegiate Hockey Association rulebook, deliberately dislodging the net inside of two minutes in regulation results in a penalty shot. Referee Luke Cyphers did not call for a penalty shot, but instead signaled for an offensive zone face-off.
He called penalties that should have been called
but when it came down to it
he left one out there
Morris said.
