The crosstown rivalry intensified this past weekend, as the USC Trojans swept the UCLA Bruins in back-to-back wins, positioning themselves to keep the Crosstown Cup closer to Downtown Los Angeles.
UCLA had swept all three previous meetings this season, which meant that one more win and the Trojans would have to hand over the treasured piece of hardware.
Senior Adam Zacuto and graduate student Dave Knight each had three goals this past weekend, as they and four other Trojans rallied together to outscore their rivals 10-4 in two games.
Friday night’s game-time atmosphere had a serious undertone to it, as the Trojans on and off the ice knew what was at stake. Not only were bragging rights in Los Angeles on the line, but USC was still fighting for PAC 8 playoff contention.
Regardless of potentially losing the Crosstown Cup this season after sweeping the best of five series last year, the Trojans marched into battle and ended up victorious.
Friday’s game took place at The Rinks - Anaheim ICE California in front of enthusiastic fans ready to see either a USC victory or a Bruins sweep.
‘SC produced a solid first period, resulting in senior Mike Mowrey’s scoring the first goal of the night, with sophomore Ryan Manning and grad student Luke Walker on the assist.
Manning was the first sent off to the penalty box for a check from behind, but the Trojans were successful and killed off the penalty.
UCLA eventually managed to tie the game up with just seven minutes left to the first, when Zack Tenney was fed the puck from Jonathan Lee.
Play was momentarily stopped when a fan in the stands blew a whistle that caused confusion on the ice. The game resumed uninterrupted after taking time to resolve the situation and announcing that such noise making devices were prohibited.
With just 53.1 seconds until the first intermission Zacuto rifled the puck bar down regaining the Trojan’s lead.
Despite an exciting start to the game the Trojans returned to the ice with an uninspiring second period performance. The referees penalized Trojans’ sophomore Thomas Duffy twice: once for holding and then for tripping, while UCLA only had Mark Yost called for tripping.
The mundane play ended when USC goalie junior Eric Chiccone injected life back into the game, making an unreal glove save that proved to be the game changing moment.
The Trojans were able to hold the Bruins from scoring for the rest of the night, but picked up a few penalties along the way. USC junior James Anderson was called for a boarding penalty just a couple minutes into the start of the third, while sophomore Derek Peters was called for slashing just a couple minutes later.
UCLA managed to kill ‘SC’s powerplay when Michael Carder was called for crosschecking. However, when Lee was called for tripping with just three minutes left in regulation, Knight took advantage of the fantastic opportunity and scored just 15 seconds into the power play, scoring the final goal of the game and extending the lead to 3-1.
USC’s momentum continued into UCLA’s home rink, as the Trojans confidently took to the ice the following evening in Bruins’ territory at the Valley Ice Center in Panorama City, California.
Halfway through the first period, senior Eliot Dawson sent the puck to Manning who then put ‘SC on the scoreboard.
Ten seconds later, USC freshman Cory Newman was called for tripping, giving the Bruins their first of nine power plays.
Bruins’ Doo Soo Kim was called for slashing, but the Trojans’ could not find a way to capitalize on the power play.
USC had two players find their way to the penalty box when grad student Ryan Kucinski was called for tripping and sophomore James Huebner for highsticking.
There was some sort of confusion when Kucinski returned to the ice that led to the Trojans receiving an icing call. Although the Trojans contested, the ruling on ice stood and the Bruins were given the faceoff in the Trojan’s zone.
The Bruins got a shot on goal right off the faceoff, but Chiccone was there to snatch it out of the air with a glorious glove save that had the stands and players stunned. Yet again, Chiccone’s spot-on play provided the Trojan’s with a boost of confidence that helped carry them through the end of the game.
Immediately after returning to full strength after Huebner’s penalty, Zack Tenney tied it up giving his team the hope of turning the game around in their favor.
UCLA was given a power play just a couple minutes into the second when Chiccone got called for roughing after he shoved a UCLA player behind his net. The Trojans were able to kill off the power play and resume their attempts to increase their lead.
Zacuto wasted no time in finding the net, as he and Huebner slithered and zoomed through the Bruins’ players and down the ice to regain the Trojans’ lead once more.
Yost responded almost immediately by scoring a goal of his own after he, Carder and Kim found a way to get past Chiccone.
David Giroux gave the Trojans a power play when he was called for interference. Although the Bruins had a successful penalty kill, they were not able to stop Knight from scoring an unassisted goal, bringing the score to 3-2.
The goal happened after a cluster of players fought for the puck in front of UCLA’s net. For a brief moment, Knight was the only one in the building who knew that the puck went in, as the dog pile of players lost track of the puck’s actual location. Once his teammates realized what had happened, the arena erupted in cheers.
Afterward, UCLA’s Tenney scored his second goal of the evening, but it would be the last time. UCLA would score that night. (You don’t really attempt hat tricks, they just are)
Tension intensified during the third period as USC dominated in every possible way.
Huebner scored his first goal of the evening 45 seconds into the period and the realization that the Trojans just may pull off the finally sunk in.
Zacuto found the net for the second time that night on a three-on-one breakaway goal assisted by Newman and Huebner.
Halfway through the period, Manning received a two-and-ten penalty: two minutes for holding and a ten-minute game misconduct for a hit deemed malicious by the referees.
Peaceful relations ceased in the final three minutes once Yost was called for roughing, followed by a tripping penalty given to UCLA’s Frank Witt.
Unbeknownst to the officials, the clock did not run for about 45 seconds of play. However, once the oversight was acknowledged only 15 seconds was subtracted on the clock.
With just a minute left in regulation, ‘SC’s Kucinski was called for slashing and UCLA’s Carder for roughing.
Frustration got the best of Carder when he began to antagonize Zacuto. Words were not enough and Carder took a swing at Zacuto that landed the UCLA player with a two-minute roughing call that sent the Bruin to the lockerroom early, with only 5 seconds left on the clock.
Following Carder’s exit, a brawl broke out and chirping between the teams continued past the final buzzer. Bruin Nick Panzica tangled with Trojan captain Noah Comisar, which lead to players mobbing around them. Panzica was given a two-minute minor penalty for roughing, a 10-minute misconduct penalty and a game misconduct penalty, resulting in a technical ejection from the game, which had already ended. Three other players were given minor penalties, but no disqualifications were assessed. Players were riled up and clearly displeased with each other. Even the teams’ coaches got in on the action as they exchanged heated words briefly as both teams slowly left the ice; the teams skipped the traditional handshake.
After a tumultuous ending to a thrilling game, the Trojans left with the Crosstown Cup still in their possession and a 7-3 win over their archrivals.
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