Hockey falls to GVSU

by Adrian Nida
Vanguard Feature Editor

December 10, 2007 —

Grand Valley hit back. Hard.

The Cardinals traveled to Allendale Saturday night for their much-anticipated rematch with the Lakers, but lost 5-2.

The Cards had started the game on the wrong foot. Saginaw left the ice after the first period, just having given up two goals to the Lakers within the last four minutes.

"We came out sluggish and against good teams you just can't do that," senior forward Nate Engstrom said. "We need to learn not to start out that way."

Saginaw got back into the game after the first intermission, joining the Lakers on the scoreboard. Sophomore forward Mike Miller scored the team's first goal, assisted from Engstrom and senior forward Brian Jensen.

"It was just good communication," Engstrom said of the play. "We were down because we were losing but Jensen directed the play. It was really good timing and communication for us."

The third period started with the score 2-1, Grand Valley still having the lead. Six minutes into the third, the Lakers scored again, tapping the loose puck in behind freshman goaltender Alan Fritch. Shortly after, their fourth goal was scored and Grand Valley was ahead 4-1.

With 6:04 left in the third, sophomore forward Jon Tibaudo scored the Cardinals' second goal, assisted by freshman forward Chris Tibaudo and sophomore defenseman Pat Miller. After their second goal, Saginaw was still down 4-2.

Fritch was pulled from the net in the last minute giving the Cardinals an extra man on the ice. The Lakers took advantage of the empty net and scored their fifth and final goal with six seconds left in the game.

The Cardinals had lost to the Lakers 5-2, but none of the five goals let up scored were on power plays. Both teams had an even number of penalties but neither could score while the other was at a disadvantage.

Done for the semester, Saginaw will next take the ice against Delta College at the Bay County Civic Arena on Jan. 18.

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