How I spent my spring break: Days 2 & 3

Using my best journalistic judgement, I've come to realize that most of the stuff I've witnessed these past few days should remain off the record, so I'm sorry the updates have been few and far between. I'm still working on game stories for both Wednesday and Thursday, but today is our off day, so I'm going to try and catch up then.

I guess I'll focus on my opinion of the first two games, as well as offer some other info about what happened in others around the tourney...

Wednesday vs. Lindenwood
I came into this game with an open mind. I knew coming off the win over Penn State the last weekend of the season that the team was perfectly capabale of beating anyone. However, I also knew they were perfectly capable of beating a lot of teams this year that they eventually fell to (i.e. most of the games in the second semester). Despite Tuesday's not-so-hot practice, I felt if they had a good night's sleep and were truly focused and wanted it bad enough, they could do some major damage.

The Grizzlies fell behind 1-0 early in the first, which I didn't think was a good sign. But Cooper got them back in the game on a short-handed goal and the teams were tied 1-1 at the end of the first. The second period was a bit of a train-wreck, as they gave up two goals, while not getting anything in their favor. It didn't look good going into the third, because as we all know, the third period hasn't been their strong point this season. They didn't give up, not for a second. McMahon and Ingram pulled them even with the Lions, then lost the lead as Lindenwood went up by a goal. Kondratek tied it up again, then Cooper got his second goal of the night and the game-winner.

To be honest, as the game progressed, I wasn't sure they could do it. They looked really flat the first two periods (although Hogan convinced me that they weren't) and Chase looked extremely nervous in net. I talked to him about it yesterday and he said he just couldn't settle down. Luckily he looked a LOT better yesterday. Lindenwood had a 5-on-3 in the last 5 minutes, then OU took a penalty with under a minute left and Lindenwood pulled their goalie, but nothing happened.

U of M-Dearborn (#15) upset #2 Ohio, which I had jokingly been saying would be nice if we could meet up with them in the second round, but I never thought it would actually happen. The game went into OT and though it was going on at the same time as ours, you could hear when it was over because the whole place erupted into cheers. Well, at least you could hear it from where we were.

Thursday vs. U of M-Dearborn
Obviously, everyone liked their chances against UMD better than they would have if they met up with Ohio in the second round, but I thought maybe they'd be taking UMD too lightly. Of the three times the teams met this season, the first two went into overtime (with the Grizzlies coming out on top both times) and the last one they lost 7-4, but some of us would rather not take into account that last game (Hogan and myself at least) because they were down to half a roster, including three players that were suspended after a fight against Western the night before.

They looked a lot stronger coming out in the first period and as a result, went up by three goals early in the game. Michaels had a pair of goals in the first, which matched his total for the entire season and Einheuser scored the other in his second game back after missing several weeks with an injury. UMD came out ready to go in the seocnd period, but the Grizzlies were able to hold them off. The Wolves finally got on the board in the third, but OU created a little more space with a goal from Kondratek. UMD pulled their goalie with over three and a half minutes left and McMahon capitalized with an empty-netter.

Up next...
Oakland will play Illinois in the semi-finals on Saturday. Illinois is the #3 seed and they beat #14 Washington and Jefferson 5-0 on Wednesday and #11 West Chester 8-3 yesterday. OU and Illinois met up twice in the regular season, with the Grizzlies losing both meetings, 7-2 and 6-3.

#1 Penn State held on as they defeated last year's Division 2 runner-up Liberty (who Oakland beat in the finals) and #12 Delaware upset #4 Rhode Island, the defending champions. Penn State and Delaware will play at 1:00 on Saturday.