Back in the early days of the Dallas Cowboys when they hadn't won any Super Bowls they had a losing team, but one that would always keep it tight in defeat. The writers at the time would use the phrase "beaten but not cowed." USC fell tonight, but read on and you'll see why this applies.
Period 1
Coming into the game it would be reasonable to expect an offensive shootout with Weber State. Their goalies give up a little under 5 goals a game, but they're still a top team. The shootout was on early. 6 minutes in, Wildcat forward Chris Deitsch beat Zack Keith short side from the near faceoff circle. Adam Zacuto didn't take long to respond. Working into the zone, Zacuto snapped a laser to blocker-side high corner just underneath the crossbar. Another sniper shot, but not gloveside like just about every other one. Leading Weber State scorer Chris Roberts responded on the powerplay. He slapped a shot from the same place Deitsch did earlier in the game. This time, Keith was a good 2 feet out of position. Zacuto tried to top it on the Trojans' powerplay. Right off of a faceoff, he stole the puck, split the Wildcat defense and pulled it forehand to backhand. Zacuto finished it with a lofted backhand that tied the game at 2. Then USC fell behind in the shootout. Off of a blast from the point, Keith gave up a short rebound and slid out of the crease. Szentveri dug it out but gave it right to Deitsch. All Deitsch needed to do was tap it forward just across the line to give Weber State the lead. Then Dane Ludolph came down ie on a break. He made a quick deke and wristed it behind Keith for a 4-2 edge. Not the best period for Keith or the Trojans.
Period 2
Both teams muddled their way through half of the period before the Trojans got caught back on their heels. After two minutes trapped in their own territory, USC got it clear and tried to change. It didn't work. Ludolph brought the puck right in and fed it over to Avery House. He found daylight between Keith's legs and made it 5-2. Besides Zacuto, the Trojan offense stalled. Keith got back in the game though. After Tim Brownell drew a penalty shot, Keith shut him down cleanly. Given the altitude, lack of skaters, and lack of offense, it would've been understandable if USC folded like an old tent.
Period 3
They didn't. The Trojans slowly started waking up. Although they failed to register a chance on a 5-on-3, the play improved. The small amount of momentum built up from USC's solid play seemed to evaporate after a perfectly executed Weber State 3-on-2. Roberts one-timed a cross-ice feed into the net. But then the effort started paying off. On a 4-on-4, Dante Caravaggio (aka The Inferno) ripped a slap shot through a Cory Adler screen into the back of the net for his 5th goal of the trip. Three minutes later on the powerplay, Zacuto struck again. Working from right next to the near post, he slung a pass across the middle of the crease to an eager Noah Comisar. He wound up and one-timed it into the goal. 6-4 Weber State and USC is now officially on the comeback trail. But despite a healthy amount of chances, the Trojans couldn't break through and finished with a moral victory and an actual loss.
Here's some news and notes from the game:
- This Weber State team beat San Jose State. The Spartans demolished USC last semester. Do the math and you'll see why this was an impressive performance in defeat. It also gives the Trojans optimism for their series against the Spartans later this semester.
- Part of USC's success could be credited to the Wildcats essentially using only 6 forwards for the vast majority of the game.
- Zacuto truly carried the offense on his back. He scored two and assisted on the two he didn't score. The Sniper now has 4 goals on the trip and extended his team lead.
- Max Szentveri had an up-and-down performance. His giveaway in the first that gave Weber State the lead was deadly (and he threw his stick in frustration). After the game, Szentveri said "at least I had an assist". It looked like he was going to fade into the background until the third period came around. Szentveri egged on the booing crowd as USC took the ice for the final frame. He then nearly finished off a low break but drew a penalty in the process. Later in the period, while killing off a penalty, Butters jumped on a point-to-point pass and rushed on a breakaway. Roberts caught up from behind and mugged him. No presence on the scoresheet but another solid performance.
- Scott Mason, for the first time in recent memory, did not take a penalty. Wow. Coach Langille was absolutely shocked and demanded a penalty be added to the scoresheet after the game. No luck.
- Packed arena and a professional-style public address announcer for Weber State. A great atmosphere for college hockey.
- The team will wake up and head out at 7:30 AM. They've got a 4:30 PM start against a juggernaut UNLV club. They are by far the best opponent out of the three. To say USC will be a big underdog is an understatement. However the Trojans do add Justin O'Neill to the lineup as he joins the team in Nevada.
OFFICIAL TROJAN SCORING
1st Period
Zacuto - 16 (Comisar)
Zacuto - 17 PP
2nd Period
NONE
3rd Period
Caravaggio - 7 (Zacuto, McClanathan) NOTE: Frazier had the assist, but Zacuto got credit.
Comisar - 4 (Zacuto, Adler) PP
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