By
Chris Suffecool
Arizona Daily Wildcat
Harris' hat trick leads UA to a 7-3 win Saturday
The Arizona Icecats finished the first half of their season with a victory, beating arch-rival Arizona State twice this weekend at the Tucson Convention Center.
The pair of wins makes Arizona undefeated in its last 15 games. The Icecats are a perfect 10-0 at home.
Arizona (16-1 overall) disposed of ASU 4-2 Friday night and 7-3 Saturday night in front of rowdy crowds at the "Madhouse on Main Street."
"It felt great," senior forward Paul Dorn said. "(It's a) good way to end the semester. We've really jelled, we've progressed a lot since the first game, (but) we still have a long way to go."
On Friday, it seemed the Icecats were struggling to find their legs after returning from the Fire and Ice Saga International Tournament in Reykjavik, Iceland.
For the first time all season, the Icecats were outshot by their opponents - the Ice Devils had 33 shots compared to UA's 28.
It was the Icecats, however, that managed to consistently light the lamp.
UA built a 3-0 lead with a goal in each of the first three periods.
Goals by junior defenseman Pavel Jandura, junior forward Mike Graves and senior forward Ed Carfora gave the Icecats a comfortable lead.
The lead disappeared in the third period, as the Ice Devils netted two goals in one minute and 20 seconds to cut the lead to 3-2.
Arizona kept its cool, and junior forward Kyle Neary netted a goal at 13:58 to give the Icecats a comfortable lead.
"We came out a little slow," Dorn said. "But we pulled that one out."
Saturday night, the Icecats came out fired up and put the game out of reach early. The score was tied 1-1 in the first period before the Icecats scored the next five goals to put the game clearly in Arizona's favor.
UA senior forward Marc Harris had a hat trick to lead the Icecats, who outshot ASU, 47-23.
"Week after week it looks like we're getting stronger and better" junior forward Kevin Meehan said. "I think we have three lines right now that can all play, can all score. I think when nationals come around we will definitely be ready."
The Icecats now have a month off before returning home to face Saint Louis University, the only team to beat the Icecats this year.
The first half of the season was a success, according to head coach Leo Golembiewski.
"We've got a good hockey team" Golembiewski said. "I'm really proud of these guys. We're pretty focused, we know what we want. Hopefully we'll keep working toward that end."
