Issue date: 1/27/10 Section: Sports

On any given day, any team can beat any other team. That's what happened for the men's ice hockey team a few weeks ago - twice.

On Jan. 8, in front of 3,700 at Mellon Arena during the College Hockey Showcase, the Colonials pulled off what seemed to be an impossible task for a 3-12-2 team (at the time) to do. They defeated the University of Miami (Ohio) Redhawks, the No. 1 ranked team in the nation with a roster that includes seven NHL draft picks, by a score of 3-1.

Beating the country's best team once is an incredible accomplishment. But to make it better, two days later the Colonials did it again, and this time on the road.

"Anytime you beat the number one team in the nation in any sport, it's a big deal, "said head coach Derek Schooley. "Doing it twice and on the road is very exciting and it's something our players will remember for their lifetimes."

But how did a team with just three wins on the season do it? These wins not only stunned Miami, but the entire college hockey world.
"I've always said I liked our hockey, just not our record," added Schooley.

Even so, the Colonials struggled through the first two months of the season. They lacked a strong penalty kill, consistent goaltending, and timely scoring.

However, that isn't uncommon for the Colonials. Last season the team was 2-7 from Nov. 1- Dec. 31. From the start of the program in 2004 their overall record in those two months is 15-35-6.

Things have always seemed to change and come together after the start of the New Year. That's when the Colonials have recorded their most memorable victories in program history, including wins against No. 2 ranked Notre Dame in 2007 and, of course, the monstrous wins against Miami.

"We've been playing well, there has just been some missing pieces," said Schooley in regards to the team's play.
Against Miami, however, everything came together.

The primary aspect of the team's game that pushed them past the Redhawks was the play of sophomore goaltender, Brooks Ostergard. He played the best he has ever played since taking over the starting spot in February of last year. He made a total of 77 saves on 79 shots in both wins, giving up just two goals, both on the power play. That includes 14 saves in the final period of play in the first game when the Colonials had to kill off 11 penalty minutes.

"Brooks made the saves he was supposed to make and some he wasn't," said Schooley.

Continued...

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