Last weekend, the Bobcats were like an undefeated heavyweight boxer suffering his first knock down. Against Robert Morris, they will try to regain their confidence and footing after hitting the canvas.
We're a little dazed right now
coach Dan Morris said. We've got to get up off the mat take the 10 seconds and get ready to box again. I think that's been the theme of our practices all week.
The No. 3 Bobcats (American Collegiate Hockey Association rankings) will face No. 13 Robert Morris (ACHA rankings) this weekend and look to rebound from the pair of losses they suffered to Lindenwood last weekend.
In preparation for what Morris called the most important weekend of the year, there was an added intensity in practice all week.
Guys need to know what's at stake he said. Practice was intense last week but it was a different type of practice. This week we've just been right back down to the basics
back down to hard work.
Following last Saturday night's loss to Lindenwood, Morris said his team did not win enough of the one-on-one battles to win the game.
In order to improve in that area, the team spent the much of this week's practice time working on those small puck battles.
At the end of practice on Wednesday, each forward took his turn against two stickless defenders with the simple goal of getting off five shots on goal.
The defenders mercilessly harassed the attackers, repeatedly knocking them to the ice and pushing them down each time they tried to get up.
Robert Morris is coming off back-to-back wins over Indiana, but had lost five of six going into last weekend.
The Eagles are led by freshman forward Gehrett Sargis, who leads the team with 55 points on 28 goals and 27 assists.
This weekend's series is especially important in terms of the Central States Collegiate Hockey League standings, in which the Bobcats currently sit a point behind Robert Morris and three points behind Lindenwood.
Morris said in order for his team to be successful during the final two weekends of the regular season, they will have to play with the confidence that they're a good hockey team.
We had things pretty easy for about two-and-a-half months
Morris said. From now on we're not going to be given the opportunity to do things that we do well. That's what Lindenwood did last weekend and I imagine that's what everyone's going to try to do from here on.
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Rob Ogden
