EMILY SHANE
Managing Editor
The Denison men’s club hockey team scored first, but was unable to continue any offensive momentum during Saturday’s 7-1 loss to the University of Toledo. Denison’s eight skaters were no match for Toledo’s full bench.
Center Conor Liden scored early, with an assist from defenseman Andrew Pasterczyk ‘18 nine minutes into the game on a power play. However, Toledo responded with two goals in the period and Denison was unable to recover.
The Denison fans in attendance at the Lou and Gib Reese Ice Arena in Newark remained optimistic after the first period when Denison trailed by just one goal, 2-1. “I think it’s really cool. I hope they can pull out a win,” said Zack Troy ‘17, an economics and communications double major from Pittsburgh, Pa.
Missy Hannan, the campus services coordinator, attended the game along with Kim Hitchcock and Hitchcock’s daughter Hannah to cheer for Liam McIlroy ‘17, a mailroom employee. “It’s neat to come out and see all the students and see everything they’re involved with,” said Hitchcock, the assistant to the director of the Campus Leadership and Involvement Center.
Denison maintained their momentum into the second period. “The highlight of the game was that we outplayed them in the second period especially in the neutral zone,” said Koch. But Denison was no match for the four full lines of Toledo’s team. Toledo scored two more goals, bringing the score to 4-1 by the end of the second period.
By the third period, Denison’s team was breathing heavily and skating slower. Toledo’s fresh legs took advantage of the Denison player’s exhaustion to add three more goals and end the game 7-1.
The team was proud of their performance against Toledo’s 26-member team. “Holding off a team that was larger than us in numbers was a big task in itself. We played really hard and it showed. Even though we lost we played our hearts out and it was a good game to learn and build from,” said Duncan Tulimieri ‘19, an athletic training major from Portland, Connecticut.
“My favorite part of DU hockey is chilling with the boys and scoring some goals,” said forward A.J. Koch ‘19, a PPE major from Shaker Heights, Ohio. Forward Tulimieri agreed. “We are all close and have each other backs both on the ice and off. I love the sport and the people that come with it.”
Next weekend the team will face Otterbein, Wooster and Wittenberg in the 70/71 Tournament on Saturday, Feb. 13 at 1:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, Feb. 14 11:15 a.m.