The Observer, February 17, 2006
Volume XXXVIII, Issue 17
Home crowd spurs hockey club to playoff-clinching win
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The Case hockey team joined the College Hockey East (CHE) conference just a few years ago and is already making its presence felt. With a win last weekend, the Spartans assured themselves a spot in the playoffs. They will play Penn State Behrend in the Valley Sports Complex north of Pittsburgh this weekend.
A full crowd at the Cleveland Heights Community Center got to watch a close game between Case and Behrend Saturday, which had already locked up its playoff spot before the game with an 8-4-2 conference record. The Spartans (7-6-1 in conference) needed to win to keep possession of the sixth and final playoff spot.
The game did not begin well for the Spartans as Behrend scored its first goal less than a minute into the game. However, ten minutes later, leading scorer Dan Pawlowski put one past the Behrend goalie to tie the game.
The score was still 1-1 almost eight minutes into the second period when Behrend regained the lead, 2-1. Just one minute later, though, Pawlowski answered, tying the game at 2-2, and Case went on to gain their first lead of the game on a goal by Vince Leone.
Entering the third period, the game was still sitting at 3-2. From the 17-minute mark to the seven-minute mark, the Spartans started putting some distance between themselves and PSB, scoring three times to take what looked like an insurmountable lead.
Behrend didn't quit and, and scored three times to cut Case's lead to 6-5 over the course of the next three minutes. With 3:20 left in the game, Matt Grabowski's goal put Case up 7-5.
With 1:22 left, Behrend scored, bringing them within a single goal. The fans and players knew the game was still in question.
"I couldn't help but flash back to some of my earlier years with the team when we would routinely give up leads," Steve Kreuzer said. "Back then, we had trouble finishing games, and I'd be lying if I said those fears didn't start to creep back into my head. On the other hand, I have nothing but the most confidence in our game breakers, and I knew that, just as there had been all year, there would be someone to step up and bury these guys."
Pawlowski and the other players were prepared to go back on the ice and ensure the win.
"I was telling my linemates that we were going to finish the game and that they weren't going to score another," Pawlowski said. "All we needed to do was to make sure we got the puck out of our zone if they were able to control the face-off."
Pawlowski scored the final goal of his hat trick, setting the final score at 8-6, and assuring a spot for Case in the playoffs.
Pawlowski credited Case goalie Rob Walls (31 of 37 saves), a CHE all-star, with keeping the team in the game.
"Rob Walls, the goalie, played exceptionally well, making critical saves early in the game to keep us in it," Pawlowski said. "Most of the goals Behrend scored were second or third chances on rebounds."
The players also acknowledged the home crowd for their energy and support of the team.
"The crowd was awesome, and I am pretty sure that game was the most highly attended game of the season," Pat Sullivan said.
The end of the game also included some temper flare-ups between the two teams, which Pawlowski said should be expected.
"Their players were getting a little hostile at the end of the game, and I'm sure they are looking forward to the rematch Friday," Pawlowski said. "Hopefully we can get some of our fans out to the game because I'm sure they will have some of theirs at the game. If so, the atmosphere will be very exciting, as playoff hockey should be."
Case's first playoff game will be the rematch against Behrend in New Kensington, Penn., where all the playoff games will be held. The game is set to begin today at 7:30 p.m. If they win, the Spartans will play the No. 1 seed, Indiana University of Pennsylvania, on Sunday night. The team is confident it can at least make it to Sunday.
"I at least intend to play Sunday afternoon in the semi-finals. Of course, we have to take this one game at a time, but I see no reason why we can't continue the success we've had against Behrend on Friday night," Kreuzer said. "As for Sunday, assuming we get that far, the team we're playing has made waves at nationals in past years, so I know it'll be a challenge, but if I recall my Disney movies correctly, any team can win on any given Sunday – or something like that."
