Icecats finish perfect on the road
The No. 4-ranked Arizona Icecats (20-3-2) swept the University of Colorado this weekend, beating a hapless Buffaloes team by scores of 10-5 Friday and 3-2 Saturday. The sweep ensured an undefeated road season for the Icecats, whose only losses have come twice to Penn State and once to Towson State at home.
The Buffaloes haven't won a game since before Thanksgiving, and Icecats head coach Leo Golembiewski seemed to know why.
"They weren't impressive at all," he said. "We went out there and did our jobs. They posed no major threat."
UA sophomore center Marc Harris netted four goals in Friday's debacle, a 10-5 win. Sophomore right-wing Mike Graves helped out with two goals, and a rare goal by sophomore right-wing Kyle McNeilance helped the Icecats breeze past the Buffaloes.
Freshman Jason Morgan was the starting goaltender, finishing the evening with 27 saves. "Morgan did a pretty good job back there," Golembiewski said, "but you gotta hand it to our offense."
The Icecats outshot Colorado 59-38 Friday night.
Saturday night's game was a bit closer. Harris opened up the scoring with a goal, and goals by freshman right-wing Kyle Neary and sophomore left-wing Paul Dorn made it 3-1. A late Colorado goal made the score closer than the game appeared, a 3-2 final.
It was junior Mark Meister's turn to take the net, finishing the evening with 36 saves.
"The only difference between Friday and Saturday night was that on Saturday, we just failed to bury the puck," Golembiewski said. "Missed opportunities on breakaways could've burned us, but we won."
Now the Icecats play the waiting game. Final seedings for the American Collegiate Hockey Association's national championship tournament, which takes place March 3-6 in Delaware, come out Thursday. Although guaranteed a spot in the tournament, the past two weeks will help determine where the Icecats fit in the scheme of things.
"This is our 17th straight year to the nationals," Golembiewski said. "I like to throw that number around. It's something all of us are very proud of."
The Icecats finish off their season this Friday and Saturday against rival Arizona State. The puck drops at 7:30 both nights at the Tucson Convention Center.
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