NCAA Game 2: UNH

[Will]

I've heard that this ref isn't all that great, even from the UNH fans on USCHO.  He seems to be making better calls in the second period (still 3-2 UNH, BTW).

[Will]

Still 3-2, end of the second.

[Chris 02]

Second period was definitely more Cornell than UNH.  Cornell played a physical period and held UNH to far fewer shots.  I think they had like only 1 till about 5 minutes left in the period, then got a couple on a PP.

[Sarli]

GGGGGOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL
tie game

[Sarli]

Palihicky scored on a scrum in front

Assist to Bell

[Stewart]

Game over. UNH advances 4-3

[Big Ben 03]

well played. very well played... :`(

[Susan Newman 08]

 ::twitch::

[DeltaOne81]

I watched the game on YES. Great, amazing, terrific, entertaining game. I couldn't have asked for a better loss. We took the #1 team in the nation to the last 2 minutes. Incredible season, incredible year, incredible team - and it'll only get better next year...

LGR!!

[JordanCS]

Our team has absolutely nothing to hang their heads about.  They played an outstanding game and had the #1 team in the country tied with under 3 minutes to go in the game.  Underhill wasn't at his strongest in the first, but settled down after that, and we played our style of hockey for the remaining 50 minutes of play.  

Hopefully we made a few people stand up and notice that the ECAC is NOT an easy conference, and that we are one of the best teams in the nation.  I think we could have beaten most any team in the country with our effort tonight, but UNH was just a bit better, and made the most of thier opportunities.  

Thanks Red on a fantastic season!  25 wins is an amazing accomplishment, and almost knocking off the nation's #1 in the NCAA's is nothing to be ashamed of.   Great season.

Jordan

[DeltaOne81]

I have to highly agree on one thing. Take away the first 10 minutes and the style was all our game... well, for the most part. I'm amazed at how well the boys controlled and fought with UNH today. I knew they had it in them, but they brought it to the surface when it really mattered.

UNH is an amazing team, especially offensively, and that was much of the difference. Great job, Cornell (geez, I'm overflowing with pride :-D :-D ).

So, when's the parade? ;-) (I'm oddly quite serious)

-Fred, DeltaOne81 '03

[ugarte]

I was very happy to come back and see that the folks watching at home had the same impression of the game that I did.  After the first period I was ready to blow up at anyone who said that the speed disadvantage wasn't going to hurt Cornell.  UNH had us back on our heels in the first period, but we still managed to score two goals and stay right in it with them.  (Great persistence from Baby for the goal, and a fantastic set-up and tip on the goal from Paolini.  Underderhill gave up a weak goal (the 2d) and completely lost the puck during the 5 on 3 allowing the 3d.)

What also became obvious in the first period is that while UNH is a GREAT forechecking team, and a very efficient offensive team, they are not nearly as good defending in their own zone.  Cornell realized that, and they really started taking it right to the net.  We had some very good scoring chances even though we couldn't get one over the line.  The second period was definitely Cornell.  The trade-off of strength for speed was made crystal clear in the second.  We were generating scoring chances because we controlled the boards, and we were able to break up the UNH attack.  It was beautiful.

The third period was also beautiful when it started.  If I weren't watching the game in a bar with the Maryland-UConn game blasting, I am sure that I would still hear that post ringing in my ears.  Palahicky's goal was spectacular.  Dogged determination, and a perfect chip.  The 8 of us at PACC went completely batshit, and the whole bar (who appeared to have been bussed in from Aberdeen) stopped watching the basketball game for a second to see why we were screaming.  The Faithful always impress.

Alas, the fourth goal was a weak one.  Undy made his share of great saves today (can't say the same for Carney), but he also let in some soft goals.  The defense bailed him out on some dangerous rebounds as well.  Not his best effort, but a great season, a great career, and that is the last I will complain about Underhill.

This season has been a thrill.  To the ECAC and the NCAA, re: 2002-03 ---

BE AFRAID.  BE VERY AFRAID.[/U]

LET'S GO RED!!!

[DeltaOne81]

The second goal was weak-ish, yeah. The third was bang-bang. I guess you could say Undy lost the puck, but you could also say UNH set up a great play with an amazing, quick, against-the-flow pass that just beat him. That's why they have a 30% power play.

As for the 4th? Soft? I dunno. It was a hard shot from close range and excellent five-hole aim. They're a great offensive team and that showed through even when we controlled much of the style. You give 'em an inch and you pay for it.

Undy wasn't quite himself today, but who is against that kind of team? He has 43+ minutes without a goal according to the YES announcers. That's our Matty.

Somebody stop me before I say I love them and offer Bud Lights all around (I *am* 21 and 1 day afterall ;-) ).

-Fred, DeltaOne81 '03

Edit: And, yes, be very afraid...

[jtwcornell91]

First of all: THANK YOU SENIORS!  Despite the disappointment of only getting two of the three expected banners, you had a great season, and impressed the hell out of everyone this weekend.  (And Dougie Murray, please don't turn pro.  Greatness awaits, and we want to practice your national anthem.)

Okay, now, if anyone finds themselves stranded in Baton Rouge for a key Cornell game, may I recommend Damon's, just off Corporate Drive (College/Constitution exit on I-10).  I've watched the last two Cornell seasons end there :`(  and while they moved me into the bar after the Maine-BU game so they could put LSU baseball on the big screen, they now have these great individual speaker boxes which actually let you hear the sound from your game (like, for example, Bob Norton singing the praises of the Big Red).

Emotional, exciting game.  When Palahicky tied it up, I think the other patrons were ready to call the guys in the white coats.

TV Faithful sightings: Heather Nichols, Mark and Jeff Anbinder, Larry Weintraub, David Craine, Josh Herman and Jim Hyla.

As an aside, this is the first time I saw Cornell live on TV this year.  The first five TV games, I happened to be there in person, and yesterday I was tied up in my meeting.

BRA, Hughes's crossbar rang very loud in my bar. :-/

Enough random thoughts for now; hope everyone in Worcester enjoyed the weekend, and I'm sorry we won't be meeting in St. Paul.

[Will]

MY HEART US BROKEN, BUT MY HANDS ARE SORE FROM ALL THE CLAPPING THIS TEAM RIGHTFULLY DESERVES!!!!