By Brittany Burke
The Blue Devils entered Saturday night’s home game looking to improve their weekend record to 2-0 overall after defeating New York University on the road 7-6, beginning the fourth and final ranking period undefeated.
Despite the NYU win, the game itself wasn’t one of the Blue Devils’ best, starting out slow only to have to play catch up in the final period.
“We didn’t have a very good game [Friday] for about a period, two periods and a half,” said senior Matt Williams. “And again we turned it on close to the end of the third yesterday and just popped in a couple of goals.”
The Blue Devils seemed to be following suit as they took the ice against the Bryant Bulldogs: slow to warm up, only to turn it around in the third.
CCSU took the ice looking more sloppy and tired than precise and energetic. The team came out flat and remained that way through the entire first period. Goalie Greg Coco was coming up with big saves, but let the puck get past him with 4:14 left to play in the first.
The Bulldogs’ goalie was on top of his game Saturday, shutting out the Blue Devils in the first period giving Bryant the one-goal lead heading into the first intermission.
“I still think there was some residual from the previous night down at NYU. We obviously didn’t play our best game, whether they weren’t prepared or it was the big lights of the city getting down there. I don’t know what it was, but I think tonight they came out flat,” said Head Coach Ben Adams.
The Bulldogs continued to shut down the Blue Devils through most of the second period. In spite of CCSU’s multiple power play opportunities they couldn’t connect with the goal. The momentum changed when Joe Dabkowski scored a rebounded, unassisted goal sixteen minutes into the second, tying the score at one a piece.
The good mood didn’t last long. Dabkowski was given time in the box shortly after his goal for roughing at 3:36. A minute and 24 seconds later Eric Blewett was called on contact to the head, presenting the Bulldogs with the power play, which they turned into a one goal lead. Again CCSU had to head into the locker room down a goal.
The third period began with a bang, recharging the Blue Devils. With 18:13 left to play Williams, assisted by Brian Fay was able to tie the score at two when he took a chance and made a shot from the top of the circles.
“I think it definitely boosted the morale of the team a little bit, and it seems like whenever we get a lead we put the foot on the pedal and keep on going,” said Williams, in regards to his goal which sparked the rest of the team.
From that point on CCSU was attacking the net, making shots and stepping up on the defense. Williams’ goal was the start of their come from behind win. Less than three minutes after the initial goal, Dabkowski scored on the power play with help from the DiClemente brothers, Rob and Mike. Dabkowski’s second goal for the night put the Blue Devils ahead for the first time in the game.
The fourth CCSU goal and final goal of the game came from Blewett, who scored with 11:41 left with help from Jonathan Knobloch and Dane Anderson.
“I think we got back to basics. Every one of our goals, except for Matt’s goal, was just purely getting pucks to the net, and crashing the net, which is if you’re having a hard time scoring that’s what you want to try to do,” said Adams.
CCSU’s multi-talented lines were able to wear Bryant down, despite the noticeable absence of defensive powerhouse Thomas Carroll. He was unable to play against Bryant and NYU after being disqualified for the second time this season in the Western game. He will be permitted back in the lineup for Wednesday’s game at Holy Cross.
CCSU is home again on Saturday Feb. 13 at 7:40 p.m. against the University of New Hampshire.
