Roller Hockey Regional Tournament Game Four: Neumann Knights versus UCONN

By: Andrew Pickul
Editor-in-Chief

The saying ‘win and you’re in’ couldn’t have been more pertinent for the Neumann Knights Roller Hockey team heading into play Saturday evening against the UCONN Huskies, with a 1-1-1 record through round robin play. The Knights were able to use that mentality to their advantage, beating the Huskies 10-3 Saturday night.

Special teams was a factor right out of the gate, as both teams picked up infractions within the first two minutes of play. Knights goaltender Jim Dumont made several key saves early to keep the Huskies off the scoreboard. Neumann’s Jonathan Lucente buried a shot from the high slot three on three to give the Knights the early 1-0 advantage. The goal post was all that separated Huskies forward Tyler DaSilva from a goal, beating Dumont clean. Halfway through the first, Neumann’s AJ Ehinger made it 2-0 with a slapshot from just inside the blueline. UCONN countered less than a minute later as James Baker elected to shoot on a two on one and buried it past Dumont.

Late in the first, good puck movement through the neutral zone paid off as Neumann’s Bill Cunningham connected a beautiful one-time pass from AJ Ehinger to increase the Neumann lead late in the second. Over a minute later, the Knights found themselves on the power play once again and cashed in on a Lucente and Ehinger hookup, giving the Knights a 4-1 lead.

“Lucente makes it happen out there,” said Dumont when asked about the two forwards. “Get in the right spot and he will find you out there.”

“The two of them are our catalysts,” added Cunningham. “They run everything. They always have a point or a touch on every goal or play.”

With no quit in the Huskies stride, the boys from Connecticut came back strong with two goals in less than 10 seconds, closing the high scoring period at 4-3. Most teams would panic after giving up two quick goals but in Head Coach Lee Strofe’s eyes, it only made the team stronger.

“It was a little nerve-racking at the end of that period,” said Strofe of the quick strikes. “But we refocused and came together as a team and pulled through.”

The Knights stressed high energy and a ‘must win attitude’ in the dressing room after the 8-2 drubbing from West Chester University early Saturday evening. That’s exactly what they came out with to start the second period. With another power play chance three minutes in the, Knights capitalized, as the Ehinger and Lucente pair struck again on a nice one-time pass across the high slot.

UCONN would get a power play chance of their own after an Andrew Ryder hooking minor but Dumont remained equal to the task, stopping several opportunities.

At 2:53 of the second, three on three action lead to another Knights tally, as Nick Allison beat UCONN goaltender Zack Back high glove side to give Neumann a 6-3 advantage and momentum heading to final period of play.

After two periods, it was evident special teams play would decide the outcome.

“They were really focused,” said Strofe. “They came out and really wanted to win tonight. They knew the season was on the line and special teams did it for us tonight.”

The same intensity played with in the first two periods carried over to the beginning of the third, as Lucente netted his third goal of the contest for the hat trick and a 7-3 lead. Another power play opportunity would lead to an AJ Ehinger blast from the point, increasing the lead to five. The Knights would continue to pour on the offense, as Bill Cunningham scored his second of the contest with a blistering wrist shot over Back’s glove hand. Lucente wasn’t done for Neumann as he was the beneficiary of a fortunate bounce off the Huskies defender which found the net, making it 10-3.

UCONN’s Tyler DaSilva would add a three on two power play tally with less than two minutes remaining, cutting the deficit to six. That would be all the Huskies could muster in the closing minutes, giving Neumann an impressive 10-4 victory and a berth in the quarterfinals Sunday morning. Lucente and Ehinger combined for six goals and five assists.

“It was a real good team effort tonight,” said Strofe. “We need to bring that same intensity tomorrow morning and we will be successful.”

The Knights defense was stellar, only allowing 16 shots in the final two periods and kept UCONN off the scoreboard. Part of that can be credited to strong goaltending, as Dumont was efficient in shutting the Huskies down after the first.

“Jimmy [Dumont] was amazing,” said Cunningham of his netminder’s play. “He came up big when we needed him early and followed through the rest of the way.”

“AJ [Ehinger] blocks a ton of shots back there,” said Dumont when asked about the defense. “They did a real good job blocking shots tonight.”

The Knights will face their rivals from over the river in Rowan University at 7 AM in first round Regional Playoff action. 

Three Stars:
1. Jonathan Lucente (NU) 2. AJ Ehinger (NU) 3. Nick Allison (NU)

 

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