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© FGCU Hockey Team 2007.
This is an official Florida Gulf Coast University Hockey Team webpage.
The FGCU Hockey Team is a proud member of the American Collegiate Hockey Association.
20301 Grande Oaks Boulevard, Suite #118, Box #26, Estero, Florida, 33928
E-mail Address: hockey@eagle.fgcu.edu     Website Development: eMCee Productions
Eagles Faceoff with Michigan Powerhouse
FGCU Spilts Weekend Series with Grand Valley State Lakers!
January 8, 2007
In one of the most anticipated weekends in FGCU Hockey history, the Eagles played host to the Grand Valley State University Lakers from Grand Rapids, Michigan. The weekend promised to provide great hockey entertainment as the Lakers are one of the best teams that the Eagles have ever played at home. With the stage set for one intense weekend series, the two teams took to the ice on Saturday night in front of a good crowd to start the new year of hockey in Southwest Florida. The first game was a classic battle. Early in the first period, the Grand Valley State Lakers silenced the home town crowd with a hard working goal which was a deflected shot from the point that found the back of the net. With the Lakers up 1-0, the two teams retired to their locker rooms for the first intermission. FGCU came out a little shaky in the first as it was their first game back since the New Year and
On Sunday night, the game started out much the same with a good crowd on hand and both teams looking to win an important game. Much like the night before, the Lakers would start the scoring and again early in the first period and again off a point shot. It seemed like déjà vu for the FGCU Hockey Team, who was grinding as hard as possible looking for every opportunity to gain some territory in the game. In similar fashion to the night before, the Eagles would battle back with an early second period goal from Allan Penney. Penney ripped a slap shot from the high slot which went through the Grand Valley netminder's glove and plummeted to the back of the net to tie the game at one. Next, Zach Messer would get a breakaway pass from Kevin Olsen and neatly tucked in the go ahead goal between the legs of Lakers goalie to give FGCU their first lead of the game. Grand Valley would not go unanswered as they would notch one of their own late in the period to send the game to the third period all tied up at two a piece. Well, just as it looked as though history would repeat itself, the Eagles exploded in the third period with three unanswered goals and an empty netter. Galbraith would start the charge after a great breakout which caught both Grand Valley defenseman off guard and sent the Eagle forward on a breakaway. Galbraith's shot found its way through the Lakers netminder and trickled over the goal line to put FGCU back on top. Four minutes later, Allan Penney would find some room in front of the GVSU net and bury a great pass from Justin Moore before the Lakers goalie or defenseman could find the puck. Then Tyler Mackereth would give FGCU a three goal lead with an unbelievable goal. After a great feed from Nic Williams, Mackereth moved to his backhand and shoveled the puck into the empty net while falling to the ice. Grand Valley would score a late goal to pull within two, but Captain Zach Messer sealed the deal with an empty net goal to make the final 6-3 in favor of the FGCU Eagles. The games proved to be some of the best in FGCU Hockey history and provided exciting college hockey action. On behalf of the entire Southwest Florida community and the FGCU Hockey program, we would like to thank the Grand Valley State Lakers for giving FGCU the opportunity to host their hockey team in Fort Myers, Florida. The two teams matched up well and could produce a future rivalry. The Eagles will take to the ice this upcoming weekend in the 2007 Gulf Coast Clash against Life University, University of Illinois, and the University of Virginia.
Mike Marrero stops after dumping the puck into the Lakers zone to head for a line change.
Eagle forward Matt Maida avoids a neautal zone hit from a Grand Valley defenseman.
Nic Williams leads a neutral zone breakout and forces Grand Valley back into their own zone.
FGCU defenseman Peter Flores battles along the boards for possesion in the Eagle's zone..
Andrew Kobrin led the FGCU Eagles with 82 saves during the weekend series..
FGCU celebrates their fifth goal against the Grand Valley State Lakers in Game #2.
Coach Steve Jensen settles down the FGCU Hockey Team during a timeout.
Brett Galbraith scored a huge goal in the second game to restore the Eagle's lead over GVSU..
Grand Valley took advantage of many FGCU turnovers to put the Eagles back on their heels for most of the period. The second period would be a different story. The Eagles started to find their legs and came out flying. Early in the second frame, freshman transfer Mike Lendino from CW Post University in Long Island, New York, netted his first goal as an FGCU Eagle to tie things up. The Eagles would dominate the period with sustained offensive pressure and had several missed opportunities. The Grand Valley team is to be credited with outstanding defensive play to keep things all tied up heading into the third period. The Eagles were able to jump out to an early third period lead thanks to yet another hard working goal from rookie Mike Lendino. Lendino battled through some tight coverage to bury a rebound and put the Eagles up 2-1. With FGCU up, Grand Valley started to mount an attack and threw everything they had at the Eagles. Several offensive rushes eventually led to a well deserved goal off a beautiful cross crease saucer pass, which was virtually unstoppable. The talented play earned the Lakers the tying goal and sent the game to overtime. The fans were being treated to some great hockey and as the two teams prepared to face-off for the extra session, players on both teams retied to their bench for a quick rest. As the overtime period started the pace was fast and furious as the play went back and forth. The intensity level went higher and higher as the seconds ticked off the clock. Both teams exchanged several good scoring chances, but it would be the Lakers that would draw blood first with a late overtime goal. A bad defensive zone turnover by FGCU would give the Lakers a 2 on 1 that resulted in the game winning goal with only eighteen (18) seconds left in overtime. As the Lakers mauled each other in celebration, the Eagles retired to their locker room already looking forward to the next installment of the battle which would come less than twenty four hours from then.