The Kent State hockey team took back-to-back wins Friday and Sunday, putting the team in first in the College Hockey Mid-America conference.
Coming off of a 2-1 win against Robert Morris and a 3-2 win against John Carroll, the Flashes continue to build momentum in preparation for the next match.
“Even though we talked a lot as a staff and as a group, on Friday, we obviously won, and that was great,” coach Zach Nowak said. “But we felt like we had a lot more to give.”
The first match against Robert Morris, the Flashes were forced to play on an Olympic-sized rink, presenting unforeseen difficulties.
By the end of the first period, both teams scored twice making it 2-2.
In the second period of the game, the Flashes scored a crucial goal against the Colonials, making it 3-2. This put the Flashes in a dominant position that ended the tie.
Throughout the third period, the Flashes took 12 shots at the net with no luck and tightened up their defense to take control of possession. With this, the Flashes took the win.
“I don’t think it was ever like a worry too much at the end of the game,” Nowak said. “Even though it was a one goal game, we pretty much played with the puck a lot of the time.”
Sunday, the Flashes went up against rival John Carroll, and both teams got at least six penalties.
In the first period, the Flashes got an early lead, making it 2-0.
During the second period, a fight broke out causing the Flashes to lose three of their players. The Flashes remained strong, holding on to their 2-0 lead over the Blue Streaks.
“We took some penalties that maybe should have gone a different way. But the refs call the game the way they call it — it is what it is,” Nowak said. “The fighting that happened for that one shift where three guys were out, those are three of our better players.”
The Blue Streaks scored twice in the third period making the score 2-2, and the rest of the third period was scoreless, sending the game into overtime.
In overtime the Flashes made four shots on the net, with the Blue Streaks blocking most of them – until the Flashes had a great turnover, which ended in the team scoring the game winner.
Sophomore defenseman Austin Weber, who won the puck back multiple times, had some great shifts and got some big hits and was a standout player over the weekend. Senior goalie Nick Beck, who made some key saves with a total of 83 saves on the weekend, along with a crucial backdoor play in the second period, was another notable high-impact player for the Flashes.
Friday, the Flashes will stay at home to play Indiana University of Pennsylvania. The game will take place at Kent State Ice Arena at 7:30 p.m.
“I think we’re going to have to learn from the chaos that ensued in the second period because it’s going to get really, really physical next weekend.” Nowak said.
Jamie First is a reporter. Contact him at [email protected].
