LIONS SCORE SIX UNANSWERED GOALS, SHOCK CAL U 7-5

Sunday, November 15, 2015

Good teams find ways to win, and Saturday night at Rostraver Ice Garden, this theory was put to the test.  In the second matchup of the season, the Vulcans would stun the Lions early.  Three minutes into the game Cal would strike first blood, taking advantage of a very sluggish start for PSU.  It would not be until the ten minute mark that Mike Lassik would score shorthanded, tying the score at one (Wilson and Danese).  The Vulcans would score two more before the end of the first and carry a 3-1 lead.  Cal would outshoot the Lions 19-8.

During intermission the Lions would try to make some adjustments, but early on the results would be the same.  Cal would score the next two goals giving the Vulcans a 5-1 lead.  This would force Coach Lantz to pull goaltender Steve Gilchrist.  "We just were not helping Steve-O out tonight and needed to spark a fire under the team."  The change did just that.  Mitch Rupprecht would score his 15 goal of the season assisted by Gricco and Tamburi.  Two minutes later Tamburi would find the back of the net from Gricco.  Sixteen seconds later, Tamburi would cut Cal's lead to 5-4. 

With the start of the third period, The Vulcans were playing not to lose, as the tides had turned in PSU's favor.  Then with a hard center drive Vinnie Defazio would tie the score for the Lions (eventhough the official score sheet said Danese from Defazio and Ludwig.  Then freshman defenseman Sean Dolan would give the Lions their first lead of the game with a shot from the point (Tamburi).  Matt Littler would ice the cake assisted from Mike Lassik.  Ryan Cornelius would stop all eleven shots in relief as he earned his first win of the season. 

This was an improbable comeback, but this Lions team has so much heart.  They just don't give up.  Vinnie Defazio would win the team's MVP belt.  PSU would improve to 7-2-1 on the season.  This was an important win for PSU as it sets up a showdown tomorrow afternoon against Saint Vincent for first place in the CHE Open Division.