Results:
Providence 7, Brown 0 (Mayor's Cup)
Brown 3, Holy Cross 2
What a crazy weekend at Meehan. After getting absolutely trampled in the third period against Providence, the Bears fought back from a two-goal deficit early on against Holy Cross and pulled out the win.
Despite being outshot by just five (40-35), the Bears lost by a touchdown Saturday afternoon. Brown looked shaky from the start, and Providence jumped out to an early lead on a goal from a mad scramble in front of Marco DeFilippo. Though Brown never seemed to be playing its best, it was still in the game in the middle of the second period, when a brawl broke out to the right of Providence's rookie goalie Jon Gillies. This was the breaking point for the Bears.
After receiving three roughing penalties on the play, including a ten-minute misconduct to Captain Dennis Robertson, Brown took a couple more trips to the sin bin due to some really undisciplined play. The Friars took full advantage, scoring two power play goals in the second period and never looking back.
The Bears had three great opportunities early in the third period. A shot rang off the post as Gillies was caught out of his crease; a PC defenseman cleared a puck essentially off the goal line in the midst of a scrum in front of the net; and Gillies absolutely robbed Matt Lorito on a powerful one-timer. Had those three opportunities gone Brown's way, it could have been a tie game.
Monday, November 26, 2012
Friday, November 23, 2012
Time to Earn Some Respect!
Nate Owen, in his weekly ECAC game picks over at USCHO.com, has picked Brown to lose to both Providence and Holy Cross this weekend.
Week in and week out, forum members pick the Bears to consistently get swept in league play in the "ECAC Pick 'Em" weekly contest.
Brown was picked last in every poll preceding the season, and the general prognosis is that there is no reason to think otherwise at this stage in the season.
All of this had really ought to piss Brendan Whittet and his boys off. I mean really: Owen claims the Bears won't be able to defend against Holy Cross, but will be able to score easily? Come on! The strength of this team has been defense, while the offense has struggled most of the time. This ignorant "analysis" (and I'm not necessarily picking on Owen, here) shows that nobody even respects the Bears enough to do them the kindness of watching some highlights, or even checking statistics.
And it's about time the team took notice of little things like that. It's about time they developed an overwhelming sense of pride for their team and channel it into the relentless energy that spurred the playoff runs from 2008-10.
Week in and week out, forum members pick the Bears to consistently get swept in league play in the "ECAC Pick 'Em" weekly contest.
Brown was picked last in every poll preceding the season, and the general prognosis is that there is no reason to think otherwise at this stage in the season.
All of this had really ought to piss Brendan Whittet and his boys off. I mean really: Owen claims the Bears won't be able to defend against Holy Cross, but will be able to score easily? Come on! The strength of this team has been defense, while the offense has struggled most of the time. This ignorant "analysis" (and I'm not necessarily picking on Owen, here) shows that nobody even respects the Bears enough to do them the kindness of watching some highlights, or even checking statistics.
And it's about time the team took notice of little things like that. It's about time they developed an overwhelming sense of pride for their team and channel it into the relentless energy that spurred the playoff runs from 2008-10.
Monday, November 19, 2012
Brown 3, Army 0
Marco DeFilippo has achieved something that no Brown goalie has in the regular season since Dan Rosen in 2008: kept an opponent off the scoresheet. Brown beat Army, 3-0, for the first shutout in the regular season since that 2-0 victory over Union to close out the 2007-2008 season.
And furthermore, Matt Lorito got himself a hat trick! There was a lot to be pleased with in the Bears' victory Saturday night. Yes, Army is a weaker opponent than most of the teams in the ECAC. But the team played well in all facets of the game.
Brown scored all its goals on special teams, with two coming from the power play and one shorthanded. DeFilippo made 25 saves for the shutout, and Lorito netted three to boost his points total on the season to 6-1-7.
The guys who provided the assists to Lorito are all big names we've been waiting to hear from: Jacobsen and Zaires; Wahl and Robertson; and Lamacchia. If those five players can keep getting involved on scoring plays, we're in good shape.
The Bears now have a short week of classes before Turkey Day, and then will take on Providence in the Mayor's Cup Saturday. The Friars have impressed early on in the season, going 5-4-1 with some close losses against tough competition (Miami, BU) and garnering 23 votes in the most recent USCHO rankings.
On Sunday, we'll face a Holy Cross team that has gotten off to a flying 8-2-1 start, including wins against Clarkson and perennial AHA champion RIT. However, they lost to the same Army team that Brown just disposed of, 7-2, and were blown out by a strong Air Force team, 7-0. So goals shouldn't be too hard to come by.
It should be a fun weekend of hockey on College Hill! Both games are 4:00 starts, so make sure you prepare accordingly if you plan to go.
And furthermore, Matt Lorito got himself a hat trick! There was a lot to be pleased with in the Bears' victory Saturday night. Yes, Army is a weaker opponent than most of the teams in the ECAC. But the team played well in all facets of the game.
Brown scored all its goals on special teams, with two coming from the power play and one shorthanded. DeFilippo made 25 saves for the shutout, and Lorito netted three to boost his points total on the season to 6-1-7.
The guys who provided the assists to Lorito are all big names we've been waiting to hear from: Jacobsen and Zaires; Wahl and Robertson; and Lamacchia. If those five players can keep getting involved on scoring plays, we're in good shape.
The Bears now have a short week of classes before Turkey Day, and then will take on Providence in the Mayor's Cup Saturday. The Friars have impressed early on in the season, going 5-4-1 with some close losses against tough competition (Miami, BU) and garnering 23 votes in the most recent USCHO rankings.
On Sunday, we'll face a Holy Cross team that has gotten off to a flying 8-2-1 start, including wins against Clarkson and perennial AHA champion RIT. However, they lost to the same Army team that Brown just disposed of, 7-2, and were blown out by a strong Air Force team, 7-0. So goals shouldn't be too hard to come by.
It should be a fun weekend of hockey on College Hill! Both games are 4:00 starts, so make sure you prepare accordingly if you plan to go.
Friday, November 16, 2012
3000!
I often check my pageviews, just to see how I'm doing and if people have been reading lately. There's always a big spike when I post new content, but this past week has been unprecedented. I was at 2,400 or so when the week began, and when I checked this morning, it had reached over 3,000!
Thanks again for all your support!
Now let's go beat Army.
Wednesday, November 14, 2012
What Effect Will All These Injuries Have on Brown?
Brown had a promising start to the season, beating a Princeton team that has since ascended to fourth in the ECAC in this young season; losing tight contests at Harvard and Dartmouth, historically two places where Brown plays poorly; and earning two hard-faught draws against nationally-ranked St. Lawrence and its travel partner that always gives us fits, Clarkson.
However, with a young roster, the Bears were expected by many (if not most) to struggle at times this season. That was before the roster was decimated by injuries.
Already, we've lost promising freshman Nate Widman for the year, and sophomore Kyle Quick, who had looked greatly improved, for a long time, if not the whole season. Nick Lappin was out for a game or two, and was not at 100% this past weekend.
The Achilles' heel for Whittet's team these past three years has been a team-wide lack of depth. It is a great irony that in the year in which the stars have seemingly faded into the background and the strength of the team has become its depth, injuries are already decimating the roster. We could be down to just six natural defensemen for the whole season.
However, with a young roster, the Bears were expected by many (if not most) to struggle at times this season. That was before the roster was decimated by injuries.
Already, we've lost promising freshman Nate Widman for the year, and sophomore Kyle Quick, who had looked greatly improved, for a long time, if not the whole season. Nick Lappin was out for a game or two, and was not at 100% this past weekend.
The Achilles' heel for Whittet's team these past three years has been a team-wide lack of depth. It is a great irony that in the year in which the stars have seemingly faded into the background and the strength of the team has become its depth, injuries are already decimating the roster. We could be down to just six natural defensemen for the whole season.
Tuesday, November 13, 2012
Thoughts After Week 3
Results:
Brown 3, St. Lawrence 3
Brown 3, Clarkson 3
It was a weekend of parity for the Bears, as they played to a pair of draws with the North Country teams. One can hardly complain about Friday night's come-from-behind tie against the 16th-ranked Saints, but Saturday's result left a slightly sour taste in the mouth, as Brown coughed up a 3-2 lead to the Golden Knights.
Brown looked to be no match for St. Lawrence 15 minutes into the second period, as the Saints had stormed out to a 3-0 lead, and looked to be running away with the game. However, Taki Pantziris scored his first in a Brown uniform with under a minute to go in the period, and in the third the Bears continued to claw back into the game.
A pair of goals from Matt Lorito and Nick Lappin within three minutes of each other brought the score level and gave Brown hope for an upset. While Bruno was aggressive in pushing forward for a winner, outshooting the Saints 34-20 in an upset attempt, the effort fell just short, and the two teams settled for a hard-fought tie.
On Saturday, Brown again had to overcome an early deficit, as Clarkson tallied just 2:41 into the contest. Michael Juola knotted the game at 1-1 about halfway through the period, but the Knights would strike again before the period's end, taking a 2-1 lead into the second period.
Sophomore Ryan Jacobsen struck under two minutes into the second period , tying the game for Brown on his first of the year. Juola would add his second of the game about six minutes later, giving the Bears a 3-2 lead. But Clarkson would equalize just a minute later, and the two teams would not find the net again, as the game ended 3-3.
After a great effort on Friday night, it was slightly disheartening to see Bruno get outshot by 'Tech, 48-30, and surrender a lead so quickly after taking it. But two points is not the worst outcome in the world, especially against a ranked opponent (SLU) and a team that always gives us fits, regardless of where they are in the standings (Clarkson).
Brown 3, St. Lawrence 3
Brown 3, Clarkson 3
It was a weekend of parity for the Bears, as they played to a pair of draws with the North Country teams. One can hardly complain about Friday night's come-from-behind tie against the 16th-ranked Saints, but Saturday's result left a slightly sour taste in the mouth, as Brown coughed up a 3-2 lead to the Golden Knights.
Brown looked to be no match for St. Lawrence 15 minutes into the second period, as the Saints had stormed out to a 3-0 lead, and looked to be running away with the game. However, Taki Pantziris scored his first in a Brown uniform with under a minute to go in the period, and in the third the Bears continued to claw back into the game.
A pair of goals from Matt Lorito and Nick Lappin within three minutes of each other brought the score level and gave Brown hope for an upset. While Bruno was aggressive in pushing forward for a winner, outshooting the Saints 34-20 in an upset attempt, the effort fell just short, and the two teams settled for a hard-fought tie.
On Saturday, Brown again had to overcome an early deficit, as Clarkson tallied just 2:41 into the contest. Michael Juola knotted the game at 1-1 about halfway through the period, but the Knights would strike again before the period's end, taking a 2-1 lead into the second period.
 |
| Mike Juola '14 had a career day against Clarkson, netting two goals in a 3-3 tie with the Golden Knights. |
After a great effort on Friday night, it was slightly disheartening to see Bruno get outshot by 'Tech, 48-30, and surrender a lead so quickly after taking it. But two points is not the worst outcome in the world, especially against a ranked opponent (SLU) and a team that always gives us fits, regardless of where they are in the standings (Clarkson).
Tuesday, November 6, 2012
Thoughts After Week 2
Results:
Harvard 3, Brown 2
Dartmouth 2, Brown 1
It was a tough weekend for the Bears, as they dropped two closely-contested games with Ivy rivals Harvard and Dartmouth. However, the greatest loss was seeing freshman Nate Widman go down with what appears to be a season-ending knee injury. Classmate Nick Lappin also left the Harvard game early, apparently with some sort of hamstring injury.
The Bears struck first in both games this weekend, and could/should have gotten better results. Marco DeFilippo had a fantastic pair of games, allowing just five goals on 74 shots. Not bad at all. It looks like Anthony Borelli will be on the bench for good, contrary to some of Whittet's preseason comments regarding the goaltending situation.
It's good to see Matt Lorito keep scoring. He could be a really important piece to build around for the next three seasons. Last year, he was hampered by a broken wrist before the season started, but he seems to finally have recovered all his wrist/forearm strength and has even better hands than last year.
Ryan Jacobsen is someone who needs to step up soon. He was our second-leading scorer last year, and hasn't put up a single point through four games. I expect him to get going relatively soon, but a quiet start is never a good thing, especially since we've had three one-goal games already. We've been outscored 9-5 so far, and while that's a great defensive number through four games, five goals is unacceptable. The offense simply has to improve, and Jacobsen is a big part of that.
I am not trying to pick on Jacobsen, because he obviously isn't the only one struggling. But it's a little disappointing to see him not living up to expectations so far. Hopefully he kicks it into high gear sooner rather than later, because he is one of our more talented players.
Looking forward, Brown hosts St. Lawrence and Clarkson this weekend in its conference home openers. St. Lawrence has been red-hot to start the season, going 5-1 with impressive wins at Western Michigan and Maine (outscoring the Black Bears 10-1 over a two-game stretch). However, Clarkson is still looking for a win at 0-4-3, which is good news for an injury-stricken and young Brown team. Three or four points is ideal for this weekend, but realistically, we should expect two. I'll have a more intensive preview later in the week.
Harvard 3, Brown 2
Dartmouth 2, Brown 1
It was a tough weekend for the Bears, as they dropped two closely-contested games with Ivy rivals Harvard and Dartmouth. However, the greatest loss was seeing freshman Nate Widman go down with what appears to be a season-ending knee injury. Classmate Nick Lappin also left the Harvard game early, apparently with some sort of hamstring injury.
The Bears struck first in both games this weekend, and could/should have gotten better results. Marco DeFilippo had a fantastic pair of games, allowing just five goals on 74 shots. Not bad at all. It looks like Anthony Borelli will be on the bench for good, contrary to some of Whittet's preseason comments regarding the goaltending situation.
It's good to see Matt Lorito keep scoring. He could be a really important piece to build around for the next three seasons. Last year, he was hampered by a broken wrist before the season started, but he seems to finally have recovered all his wrist/forearm strength and has even better hands than last year.
Ryan Jacobsen is someone who needs to step up soon. He was our second-leading scorer last year, and hasn't put up a single point through four games. I expect him to get going relatively soon, but a quiet start is never a good thing, especially since we've had three one-goal games already. We've been outscored 9-5 so far, and while that's a great defensive number through four games, five goals is unacceptable. The offense simply has to improve, and Jacobsen is a big part of that.
I am not trying to pick on Jacobsen, because he obviously isn't the only one struggling. But it's a little disappointing to see him not living up to expectations so far. Hopefully he kicks it into high gear sooner rather than later, because he is one of our more talented players.
Looking forward, Brown hosts St. Lawrence and Clarkson this weekend in its conference home openers. St. Lawrence has been red-hot to start the season, going 5-1 with impressive wins at Western Michigan and Maine (outscoring the Black Bears 10-1 over a two-game stretch). However, Clarkson is still looking for a win at 0-4-3, which is good news for an injury-stricken and young Brown team. Three or four points is ideal for this weekend, but realistically, we should expect two. I'll have a more intensive preview later in the week.
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