Game Recap: Trojans take two vs. UCLA, tie series 2-2, clinch PAC 8 berth.

The USC ice hockey team entered last weekend's 2-game contest against UCLA needing to win both games to keep the Crosstown Cup as well as remain in playoff contention.

UCLA won the previous two regular season meetings by close margins: a 4-3 shootout victory on October 15, and a 5-4 win on November 8, where game-winning goal was scored with 12.6 seconds left on the clock. The Bruins also won a pre-season contest on September 21, 5-4.

However, this was the Trojans' weekend, as they outscored the Bruins 10-3 to take both games, which not only tied the Crosstown Cup series up 2-2, but also guaranteed the Trojans a trip to Seattle for the PAC 8 playoffs, to be hosted by Washington on February 10-11.

UCLA had previously clinched their spot in the PAC 8s.

Friday, January 20 - USC 3, UCLA 1

In Friday's match at The Rinks - Anaheim ICE, the teams were evenly matched for most of the game. Five minutes into the 1st period, USC's Mike Mowrey (assists from Ryan Manning, Luke Walker) struck first to give the Trojans the early lead, 1-0.

However, the Bruins answered less than 3 minutes later with a power play goal from Zack Tenney (John Lee) to tie it up at one a piece.

In the last minute of the 1st, Trojan Adam Zacuto (unassisted) nets a the go-ahead goal to lead USC into the 1st intermission leading 2-1.

The 2nd period was a scoreless defensive struggle for both teams, but remained relatively quiet with only 3 penalties called, two of which were on USC defenseman Tom Duffy.

The defensive game continued until late in the 3rd period, when Bruin captain Jon Lee was called for tripping. The Trojans capitalized on the power play, when David Knight (Duffy, James Huebner) scored just 15 seconds into the man-advantage and extended the USC lead to the final score of 3-1.

The Trojans avoided handing over the Cup over to the hopeful Bruins at least for one more night, with UCLA still holding the series lead 2-1.

Saturday, January 21 - USC 7, UCLA 3

The series shifted Saturday night to UCLA's home rink, Valley Ice Center, with both teams carrying momentum from the previous night's tilt into a more aggressive game.

It was a quiet first half of the 1st period, until USC defenseman Ryan Manning (Eliot Dawson) broke the stalemate and picked up his first goal of the season on a rocket from the blue line.

UCLA answered back late in the 1st, with Tenney (Lee) notching one with 27 seconds before intermission and tying it up 1-1.

The last two periods were marked by skirmishes between the players, starting with USC netminder Eric Chiccone (42 saves) picking up a roughing penalty early in the 2nd.

Four minutes into the frame, Zacuto scored his first of 2 goals on the night, off a feed from Huebner.

The Bruins answered minutes later, as Yost (Michael Carder, Doo Soo Kim) tied up the score 2-2.

The Trojans grabbed the lead again, 3-2, when Knight (unassisted) followed through on his own shot and slipped one past UCLA goalie Al Ricchiardelli (20 saves) for the first of his 2 goals on the night.

UCLA would not be held down however, as Tenney (unassisted) scored his 2nd goal of the night, leading the Bruins into the break with another tie game, this time 3-3.

The 3rd period was a different story, as USC dominated the offensive end and scored 4 unanswered goals.

With the Trojans starting the 3rd on the penalty kill, Huebner (unassisted) lead the onslaught when he picked up the loose puck and buried one past Ricciardelli for the game-winning, short-handed goal just 45 seconds into the period.

Just a few minutes later, USC forward Ryan Kucinski put the puck past Ricciardelli, but it was ruled "no goal" by the referee for a dislodged net.

Halfway through the 3rd, Zacuto (Newman, Huebner) picked up his 2nd score of the night on a 3-on-1 breakaway and a shot through the 5-hole, giving the Trojans a 5-3 lead.

Frustration from both teams became evident as the period wore on. USC's Manning picked up a minor penalty for holding plus a 10-minute misconduct with 9 minutes on the clock, resulting in the defenseman sitting in the box for the remainder of the game.

USC extended the lead to 6-3 in the 13th minute as Kucinski (unassisted) scored his first official goal on a breakaway.

Two minutes later, Knight (Kucinski) tacked on one more to put the game out of reach 7-3 with 4 minutes remaining.

Emotions boiled over at the end of the game, sending players to the locker room early. In the final 3 minutes of play, combined 20 penalty minutes and an ejection were handed out to both teams.

UCLA's Mark Yost started the extracurriculars with a roughing penalty in the 17th minute, with Frank Witt joining him in the box a minute and a half later.

With 6 seconds left on the clock, USC's Kucinski got dinged for a slash; UCLA's Carder took exception and the 6'4" Bruin captain took a swing at 5'7" Zacuto, which earned him a roughing call.

The final penalties were assessed after the game ended, when Bruin assistant captain Nick Panzica threw a high hit on USC captain Noah Comisar, who was skating down along the USC bench after the horn sounded. Players from both teams joined in the scrum, which lead to the officials calling off the traditional post-game handshake between the teams.

Panzica was assessed a minor penalty for roughing, a misconduct penalty, and a game misconduct which resulted in a technical ejection from the game.

No USC player was given any penalties in the final series; as well, no disqualifications were handed out, meaning no players were given suspensions from either team.

USC hosts PAC 8 foe Oregon for two games this Friday and Saturday; Saturday is also USC's CHOC Night & Teddy Bear Toss, a charity game to benefit the Children's Hospital of Orange County.

UCLA travels to Santa Barbara to play Division III UCSB.