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Written by Blake Martin
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Sunday, 13 December 2009 |
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With a packed house at the Valley Ice Center, the Cal. State Northridge Matadors continued their winning streak against the University of Wyoming Cowboys.
Wyoming got on the board first early in the game off a misread dump in on goalie Ron Dierkes. Northridge gave the Cowboys an inch and Mitch Nelson of UW took a mile, burying the puck to give the Cowboys an early lead at 17:42. After a hard fought and very physical first period, Northridge remained down 1-0, until Anthony Annese got the Matadors on the board to tie the game up at 16:10 of the 2nd period. The Matadors went on the powerplay three minutes later, but assistant captain Anthony Kendryna was assessed a five minute major and a game misconduct for hitting from behind. During the 4 on 4, Captain JP Gale wreaked havoc in the Wyoming zone and with a big hit, opened up some space for little brother Chris to put the puck past Ainsworth. The third period started with a feverish pace but it was the Matadors who struck first at 15:06 with Avetissian netting his 12th of the year off a Chris Gale rebound. Just a minute later, Chris Gale put in his 40th goal of the season on the powerplay giving Northridge the 4-1 lead. The Cowboys continued to fight, but strong play by the Matadors defense and goalie Ron Dierkes kept Wyoming off the scoreboard. When it looked like the Matadors had this one wrapped up, Cody Suder capitalized on a Matadors miscommunication and put Wyoming within 2 goals with 1:32 left to play in the third. The Cowboys got a break quickly off the play and AJ Bernhardt was forced to pull down a Cowboy taking a 2 minute tripping penalty. Wyoming needed only 8 seconds to score off the face off to put them within 1 goal. With the Wyoming goalie pulled the Matadors needed multiple icings to keep the game in hand, but strong play by the Matadors in their own zone kept the Cowboys at bay. When all was said and done, Northridge came out the victor, with 7 forwards and 5 defenseman for more than half the game. Excellent play by both Ainsworth and Dierkes kept the scoring low. Matadors captain JP Gale and Cowboy captain Elliot Bauder put on a great display of physicality all game and left no question why those two wear the C's for their teams. In the end though Northridge's defensive play in their zone, forecheck in the offensive zone and offensive spark were what made the difference.With this game being the last in the ranking period, Northridge should move up or at least hold onto their #3 ranking, winning all 6 of their games in this period. Wyoming will surely move up in the top 4 and possibly the top 3 based on their performance this last month. Watch for the Cowboys to make a run in the Pacific, with strong physical play, size and exceptional goaltending the Cowboys will be a team to reckon with in the post season.Next Saturday the Matadors will be heading down to KHS Ice Arena to face the CSU Fullerton Titans at 7:30 pm and then head into the holiday break. |
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Last Updated ( Monday, 14 December 2009 )
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