Men's hockey sweeps University of Delaware

11/4/09 - The No. 10 University of Rhode Island men's hockey team swept a two game series against The No. 7 University of Delaware Blue Hens during the weekend. The Rams picked up their first shutout of the year on Friday winning 3-0, and won a close game 5-4 on Saturday. The Rams started junior goalie Joe Spagnoli on Friday, while Delaware started junior goalie Kurt Pflumm at the other end.

Rhode Island got on the board midway through a physical first period on the strength of a goal from sophomore forward Evan Dietz.

The physical play would continue into the second period with the number of hits for each team steadily increasing. Sophomore forward Jay Dupras scored his sixth goal of the season to increase the Rams lead just over six minutes into the period.

The Rams came out in the third period determined to get Spagnoli the shutout. The Rams defense seemingly made every rebound and the penalty kill was aggressive in clearing the puck.

In the waning seconds of a penalty kill midway through the third period, senior forward Devin Sheehan scooped up the puck at center ice and went on a one-on-one rush when he spotted sophomore forward Robert Beggi for a pass which enabled Beggi to score.

"Sheehan made a great play wide and got the puck to the middle and I put it home," Beggi said.

The shutout was the first of the season for the Rams, and the first of Spagnoli's career.

"The defense played well in the zone and Spags came up big. It was nice to get the shutout for him," Beggi said.

"[The team] was winning defensive battles and blocking shots," Spagnoli said after the win. "They were able to clear any rebounds away in front of me and the guys scored at key times. I'm getting into a good groove right now and my confidence is pretty high."

Spagnoli got the nod in goal again Saturday, making his first back-to-back start of the season. Delaware started Pflumm in net once again for the Blue Hens.

Delaware came out determined to get its first goal of the series. The Blue Hens struck first with a goal just over five minutes into the game off the stick of sophomore forward Andre Menard. Rhode Island would respond with a power play goal from Beggi late in the period.

Dietz extended his goal-scoring streak to five games with a goal five and a half minutes into the second period. Dietz scored six goals and added three assists during the streak.

"The team is on a hot streak which is why I've been doing so well lately," Dietz said.

The game was tied at two apiece heading into the third period, and both teams came out battling. Delaware controlled the play early on in the period until Rams sophomore forward Richie Falasca rang a shot off the post four and a half minutes into the period that woke up the Rams offense.

The Rams ran down the Blue Hens midway through the period, scoring three goals in a span of 55 seconds from Sheehan (8:19), freshman forward Mike Tait (8:59), and Dupras (9:14 on the power play).

Despite facing a three-goal deficit with 10 minutes to play, Delaware kept attacking. Sophomore forward Rocky Romanella scored a goal with more than three minutes remaining to pull Delaware within two. Delaware pulled its goaltender and sent Romanella on as the extra attacker with just under a minute to go in the period. He would score the 6-on-5 goal with 38 seconds left to pull Delaware within one.

"We struggled to clear the puck out a little bit in this game," Dietz said. "In between the second and third period we realized we needed to step it up and we did. All three goals we scored in the third were because of hard work."

During the ensuing play, a scrum broke out in front of the Rhode Island net that resulted in Delaware junior forward, and Rhode Island native, Dave Lombardi being assessed a five-minute major for excessive roughing, a two-minute minor for a facemask, and a 10-minute game misconduct/ejection. Rams sophomore defenseman Dan Lassik received a two-minute minor for roughing.

"We didn't clear the net and they got some cheap goals," said head coach Joe Augustine. "I told them [between the second and third periods] that they could have the day off [Sunday] if they could worked harder in the third."

When asked about Dietz's hot streak Augustine said, "He's been going to the net hard and has been getting to the rebounds in front. The whole 'New York Line' has been playing great."

With the two wins, the Rams improved to 11-2-0 on the season and rose to No. 6 in the rankings, while Delaware fell to 7-3-0 and dropped to No. 14. Next up for Rhode Island will be a visit from Wesleyan University this Sunday at 5 p.m. Admission is free for all students with a valid I.D.