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 Stavros Paskaris had a goal and an assist against Air Force. |
March 11, 2005
Grand Rapids, Minn. - The Wayne State University men's hockey squad (14-17-4) suffered a 4-3 overtime loss to the United States Air Force Academy in a College Hockey America quarterfinal contest Friday evening at the IRA Civic Center in Grand Rapids, Minn.
The Warriors had a one goal lead on three different occassions but were assessed a minor penalty by referee Frank Murphy within a couple of minutes (1:22, 0:08 and 2:46) of taking a lead each time.
WSU started strong scoring just 33 seconds into the contest as freshman center Stavros Paskaris (Dearborn, Mich./Kewadin Indians) banged in a loose puck past Air Force netminder Peter Foster. Sophomore right wing Mark Nebus (South Lyon, Mich./Texas Tornado) and sophomore left wing Jason Baclig (Leamington, Ont./Leamington Flyers) assisted on Paskaris's 12th goal of the year.
The Falcons tied the game at the 3:36 mark of the opening period on an Andrew Ramsey power-play goal.
The game was knotted for just over four minutes until Baclig forced an Air Force turnover behind its net. Paskaris had his shot from the doorstep stopped by Foster but Baclig drilled in the rebound for his third marker of the season. With the assist, Paskaris equalled the CHA record for points in a season by freshman (33) originally set by Air Force's Andy Berg during the 1999-2000 campaign.
Ramsey's second man-advantage marker of the game 2:39 into the middle stanza evened the score at two.
Wayne State went ahead again this time with 1:30 remaining in the second period as sophomore forward Nate Higgins (Calgary, Alb./Green Bay Gamblers) blasted a one-timer during a five-on-three power play into the top corner for his 11th of the year. Junior defenseman Steve Kovalchik (Riverview, Mich./Omaha Lancers) earned his 15th assist of the season on the lamp-lighter.
Air Force pulled even for the third time just 83 seconds into the third period on its third power-play goal of the game. Brandon Merkosky banged in the rebound of a Brian Gineo shot.
Wayne State stepped up its play in overtime recording 10 shots on goal but Foster and Warrior goalie Matt Kelly (Hull, Mass./Topeka Scarecrows) were on their games. Kelly made eight saves before allowing his lone non-power play goal of the game.
Kelly finished the contest with 39 saves, while Foster made 29 stops. Air Force went three-for-seven on the power play, with Wayne State scoring once in eight man-advantage opportunities.
Wayne State had just one senior on the roster this season, John Grubb (Burlington, N.D./Waterloo Black Hawks), who battled through injuries to record two points on one goal and one assist.
The Warriors doubled their CHA point total from a year ago (nine to 18).
WSU is now 8-2 all-time in CHA playoff games and has won the tournament three times in the last five years.
