USC Trojans vs. UW Huskies: Pac-8 Championship Rematch Game 2-Postgame

USC came out with a whole different attitude and a new lineup in the 3rd period, and it paid off to start. Physical play was the theme of the period as both team traded hit after hit, and penalty after penalty. USC finally struck first in the period, but UW was able to put it away late in the 3rd, sinking the Trojans 3-1.

USC came out much stronger than they had been in the previous 5 periods this weekend, trying to swing the momentum in their favor. Coach Langille switched up the lineup, putting Freshman Thomas Washenfelder with Freshman James Huebner and Junior Assistant Captain Noah Comisar, and it paid off on the power play. Washenfelder fed Junior Assistant Captain Dante Caravaggio at the point, who ripped a shot through a Huebner screen and past Husky goalie Danny Dougan. USC continued to battle for momentum all the way through the period, but with less than 2 minutes to play, UW struck back, as a Tristan Wickliff slap-shot from the top of the near circle rifled into the top corner through a thoroughly screened Freshman goalie Alex Caravaggio. The goal sent the Trojans home with the 3-1 loss.

My first star of the game goes to Junior Assistant Captain Noah Comisar. Though he did not show up on the scoresheet tonight, his physical play throughout the first 2 periods was the ultimate "lead by example" type of play. His work clearly caught the sight of Coach Langille, who put him as the grinder up on the first line, and his physical play combined with Waschenfelder and Huebner gave the Trojans the best chance they had to win. Look for Comisar to continue that physicality going into next weekend's games against LMU and LBSU.

Overall, the Trojans played a very up and down game against the Huskies. They showed, though, that they can skate with them, and if they played the same way they played in the 3rd period for all three, USC would've come out of this game with a win. Alex Caravaggio continues to prove why he is the premier goalie in the Pac-8, and his play is an example the rest of the Trojan lineup can follow.

I'll be back next Friday for the Trojans game against LMU.

James