Ohio (4-0) swept the University of Cincinnati Bearcats (2-4). The Bobcats squeezed out a close 5-3 victory Friday. On Saturday night, Garrett Alderman, graduate student goalie, earned his second shutout of the season in the Bobcats’ 11-0 win.
Also, USA Hockey goalie and Olympic gold medalist Gwyneth Phillips, an Athens native, appeared for an honorary puck drop at Saturday’s game.
Friday
Contrary to expectations, Ohio did not have the upper hand in this game. Cincinnati’s three goals had fans on the edge of their seats. Scott Bird, senior goalie, started in net for the first time this season. Ohio recorded 63 shots on goal, compared to Cincinnati’s 22. Aggressive play meant eight penalties for Ohio and six for Cincinnati.
The Bobcats controlled the first period. They kept the puck in their offensive zone and shut down the Bearcats attacks.
A wonky play led to Ohio’s first goal. Junior forward Nolan Abraham shot top shelf. Drake Nabozny, senior defender, and graduate student forward Will Cohen assisted Abraham.
“It took a funny bounce and hit off the goalie’s head,” Abraham said.
Time and time again the Bearcats’ goalie was forced to scramble in the crease to gather the puck. Eventually, the pressure was too much. After a Bearcat took a puck to the ankle, the team was left vulnerable. Senior captain Noah Holt scored when he took a shot while falling to the ice. Abraham and Nabozny were credited with the assists.
The second period was an increase in action. Frustrated, both teams earned penalties on sloppy moves, and two scraps boiled over into roughing penalties.
Breyden Zupsansky, rookie sophomore forward, scored an unassisted goal a minute into the period.
Cincinnati took advantage of a faceoff win. Cincinnati sophomore defender Quinn Visokey scored from the blue line after the puck deflected off the left post.
CJ Davidson, Bearcat sophomore forward, ripped Bobcat sophomore defender Nick Mahy’s helmet, starting a fight. Mahy grinned as he overpowered Davidson. Both went to the box. With Kevin Kasper, senior forward, still in the box from an earlier penalty, the Bearcats were on a power play. Matthew Bauman, Bearcat junior forward, scored to put them within one.
Alex Thomas, freshman forward, rectified that immediately. He weaved through Cincinnati defenders and shot directly in front of the goalie. Sophomore defender Brady Gilbert set up Thomas with a clean pass.
“We have four rookies,” Abraham said. “We have been showing them the ropes, making sure they are adjusting to college. They’ve done well. They’re good luck.”
Malfunctioning gear for Cincinnati’s goalie forced a slow start in the third period.
The Bobcats spent much of the game on the penalty kill. The Bearcats snagged another power play goal. A tangle at the net allowed Davidson to sneak one by Bird’s right pad.
The Bearcats called a timeout. They pulled their goalie to set up a final attack. Instead, Cohen scored an empty net goal.
Saturday
The Bobcats bounced back from a shaky start to the weekend. Their 11 unanswered goals silenced any doubts of their skills.
Gilbert put Ohio’s first goal on the board. His shot from the blue line was assisted by senior defender Donovan Burdette. Ohio won the next faceoff. Freshman defender Gianni DiVita scored his first goal as a Bobcat nine seconds after Gilbert’s. Kasper and junior forward Alex Mazzuca assisted.
In the second period, Cohen scored his fourth goal of the season from the right faceoff dot. Next, Abraham buried a slap shot on his knees. Thomas and Nabozny combined on the assists.
Cincinnati’s four penalties in the second put the Bearcats at a severe disadvantage. Senior forward Laker Aldridge recorded a power play goal just before the buzzer. Holt assisted.
The third period was when the Bobcats came alive. They had six goals by six different players.
Once again, Ohio used a power play to net its sixth goal. Gilbert and sophomore forward Lance Mengel assisted Zupsansky. DiVita then earned his second goal of the night. Junior defender TJ Richey helped DaVita battle at the net.
Senior forward Barron Stibbe found the top shelf with a wrist shot. Mengel tallied his second assist of the game.
Holt passed between his legs to Thomas, who chipped the puck over the goalie’s leg. Junior defender Blake Dustin had the secondary assist. The Bobcats struck again when Mengel scored a goal of his own. DiVita grabbed his third point of the night with his assist.
Ohio earned its final goal of the sweep when Zupsansky scored off Aldridge’s pass. Senior forward Mathieu Ovaert also assisted.
Next weekend, the Bobcats travel to St. Louis to play the Maryville University Saints (1-1). Friday, they play at 9:45 p.m. and Saturday at 6:15 p.m. EDT. The Saints will be more of a challenge than the Bobcats’ first two weekends. They were ranked No. 10 in the preseason poll.
