Ice
Aggies destroy No. 2-ranked Denver
By Jerome le Carrou
November 14, 2005 | The Utah State Aggies hockey team
blew out No. 2-ranked Denver University, 8-1, Friday
night at the Eccles ice center and improved to 7-1-9.
The Eccles Ice Center was packed with more than 1,000
fans, ready to see the Aggies in action against a team
better ranked and which had previously beaten the Aggies,
3-1, in Denver.
"It's a pretty dang good effort," said Aggies coach
Jerry Crossley. "It has been three games in a row that
the guys have been playing well.
"The pieces of the puzzle are finally coming
together," he said.
Aggies co-captain Scotty John said, "I don't think
they were ready to play us; they were not watching for
us."
John said he likes that the Aggies are ranked No.
10. He said the teams that come in Logan are not expecting
the Aggies to give them a tough time.
Aggies captains Robert Hashimoto and Scotty John scored
two goals while Aggie William Winsa had a goal and recorded
four assists.
The Aggies had a perfect start as Mike Lewandowski
scored after 1:27 of play. Lewandowski found the right
side of the net on a breakaway after an assist from
Josh Groves.
The Pioneers scored on their power play in the first
period. Mackenzie scored with 11:13 to play.
The teams went to the locker room after an intense
first period. At that time, it was hard to tell whether
the Aggies or the Pioneers would make the final decision.
The second and the third period didn't leave any doubts,
as the Aggies played better and scored seven more goals.
Crossley said, "We are a lot more disciplined, the
guys know better how to look at each other."
Aggies Parker Richards scored in the second period
while Hashimoto and John scored one goal each in the
second and third. Winsa and Jay Obmerga also scored
in the third period.
Obmerga, who scored its first goal of the season,
said he was glad the coach took him back on the team
this year. He said he had to quit last January because
he had an internship in Orlando.
Talking about his goal, Obmerga said he was at the
right place at the right time. Obmerga found himself
on a breakaway and scored right after getting out of
the penalty box.
"Oh, my god, a breakaway! I better score that one
or they're gonna make fun of me," Obmerga said.
Aggies goalie Greg Finatti started the game instead
of Adam Lain. Crossley said it's part of the rotation
they have in the team.
"We have to get everybody ready to play," Crossley
said.
John said whether it's Lain or Finatti, he feels secure.
He said they are both "sick."
Finatti recorded 18 saves as the Aggies outshout the
Pioneers 31-19.
"Our defense played awesome tonight," said Finatti.
"It's a good thing especially with a road trip coming
up next week."
The Aggies face the University of Washington on Thursday
and Eastern Washington on Friday and Saturday.
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