Floodgates Open: USC Defense Struggles in 8-4 Loss to Washington

Hey everyone,

With the same short squad, USC tried to dig deep and do what they could not last night. Upset second-seeded Washington.

Period 1

The upset bid got off to a good start. On their second powerplay attempt of the night, Michael Gawlik fed Nick Helmer in the low slot. Helmer dished to Max Szentveri at the far post, who sent the puck right back to Helmer for one of the easiest goals he's scored this year. The Huskies took 5 minutes to respond, but did. Dangerous defenseman Daniel Carson came in 2-on-1. USC's Phil Adams guessed pass, but guessed wrong. Carson threw the puck through a flailing Adams to tie the game. Justin O'Neill took a penalty with 26 seconds left in the period and that turned out to be a mistake. Straight off of the ensuing faceoff, Carson sent a low and slow shot in from the point. It was headed wide until Phil Harezlak redirected behind Adams and in.

Period 2

The Huskies continued rolling, with some more help by Trojan penalties. Scott Mason received 2 for high sticking and Dante Caravaggio got another one a minute later for unsportsmanlike conduct. Washington didn't waste the 5-on-3. Harezlak punched home a rebound early into the major man advantage. Then Ian Shook bounced a puck off of Adams and in on the 5-on-4. A three-goal deficit entering the second break is a bit tougher mentally than a two-goal one, and Caravaggio agreed. Caravaggio held in a Huskies clear and sent in one of his trademark slapshots. Fellow blueliner Alex Hite was forechecking on the play and was skating through the crease. The rubber hit his skate and pinballed past Washington goaltender Danny Dougan. After some discussion, between the referee and his linesmen, the goal stood (and was credited to Caravaggio for whatever reason). 4-2 Huskies after 2.

Period 3

USC has been down by this margin in 3 of their last 4 games. At least of late, they're used to the comeback. What they aren't used to is being steamrolled in the ensuing third period. A minute in, Washington tallied another powerplay goal. Arne Krogh got credit, but it could have been any of three Huskies battling in a scrum in front of Adams. Less than two minutes later, Scott Mason answered. He sent a backhander from between the faceoff circles past Dougan's pad and in. That was as close as USC got. 18 seconds later, Dougan left a puck behind his net for Carson. The Huskies' defenseman did the rest of the work, flat out embarassing the Trojans with a coast-to-coast goal. Carson had 5 points on the night. The Washington first line followed that up 7 seconds later just off of the draw. Dan Herda one-timed a feed from Corey James home to extend the lead to 7-3 just 3 minutes into the period. Nearly 9 minutes following that, they put the nail in the coffin. On the powerplay, Caravaggio threw a pass straight to Huskie Sean Hale. He took it the other way and finished the goal and the Trojans. If that one didn't seal it, a piece of horrendous officiating seconds later did. Helmer entered Washington territory, burned around the defense and the net, and finished off a wraparound. The only problem was that the referee didn't see it go in. The puck rebounded off of the inside base of the net and sat right on the line inside the near post. USC too busy celebrating and Washington was too busy being frustrated over allowing the goal. Eventually, Szentveri realized it wasn't in, made a stretching effort for the puck. Dougan beat him to it and clamped the glove on top. After another long discussion, the goal was disallowed to Helmer's disbelief. So on the next rush in, Helmer scored what can only be described as a "screw you" goal. He pulled another wraparound across the line and looked relieved when the referee finally signaled goal. But the USC momentum didn't continue and the game ended 8-4 in favor of Washington.

Some news/notes:

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- Not Phil Adams' best effort. Several goals he should have had, and nobody knows that more than Phil. Adams appeared to have the edge on Zack Keith to grab the starter's spot for the Pac-8 tournament. Now things are far more up in the air. Both goaltenders should have two more starts to make their case. An indicator of who is in the lead could be the chosen starter for Game 5 of the Crosstown Cup. If that's the case, then each player has one and only one chance against San Jose State.

- Dante Caravaggio had one of those nights. In talking to him after the locker room he mentioned that his psychology was thrown for a loop during the course of the game. It showed on the giveaway that led to the eighth goal of the game. The assistant captain will have to pick himself off of the mat in a hurry with SJSU next on the schedule.

- I mentioned Max Szentveri was USC's ultimate "Close But Not Quite" player. He solidified that notion tonight. Although he set up linemate Nick Helmer with two assists, he couldn't get one of his own (but not for lack of opportunities). On Helmer's disallowed wraparound goal, Szentveri had one sitting on the line that he just couldn't push across. After Helmer's allowed wraparound goal, Helmer set up Szentveri perfectly on a 2-on-1 rush. Szentveri had 90% open goal and 10% Dougan's glove to shoot at. He hit the glove and nearly broke his stick in frustration afterward.

- Scott Mason showed two trademark elements of his game tonight while playing in front of his parents. He showed an underrated scoring touch, popping in a backhand and nearly adding another. But he also showed his propensity for taking penalties, sitting for four minutes of the second period.

- James Anderson and the Teal line actually held their own in the game. Anderson and Ahern teamed up for a solid scoring chance in the first. Coaches expressed surprise that Anderson could get a shot on goal, but then again, Anderson is generally the butt of the team's jokes.

- Special teams were king this game. 8 goals were scored on the powerplay or shorthanded.

- After the match, Coach Wilbur treated the entire team to a dinner at Buca di Beppo, conveniently located right outside the hotel.

- Trojans are locked into the 5 seed in the Pac-8 and their opponent will almost certainly be the UCLA Bruins. That would be the sixth meeting between the two clubs this year. Their likely second round matchup (to really look too far ahead) would be the Oregon Ducks.

OFFICIAL TROJAN SCORING

1st Period

Helmer - 18 (Szentveri, Gawlik) PP

2nd Period

Caravaggio - 8 (Hite) PP NOTE: Goal was actually scored off of Hite's skate

3rd Period

Mason - 6 (O'Neill, McClanathan) PP

Helmer - 19 (Szentveri)