Long Beach State had two games this weekend, and the first game on Friday night against the Univ. of Southern California Trojans had to have been the most bizarre game ever.
It began with a quick pace, heavy hitting, and scoring chances for both teams. USC struck early after 49er turnover. Brad Roberts roofed a rebound off Nick Kemp’s drive for the 1-1 tie after one period.
George Laboda drew a five-minute major power play in the second, but Long Beach failed to convert.
Whistles were a plenty, yet USC managed to find all the ref’s blind spots so they could hook and slash players like Clay Perry behind the play.
Sean Hoang was denied on two breakaways, once by Trojan goalie Zachary Keith and once by crossbar.
In the third period, Nick Kemp covered the puck with his hand in the crease giving USC their choice of penalty shot shooter. Beach netminder Rick St. Louis stopped their leading scorer Adam Zacuto’s penalty shot.
Trojan goalie Zachary Keith was removed from the game in the third for having illegal leg pads which also carried a two-minute minor. USC’s Coach Mark Wilbur challenge against St. Louis’ failed costing another penalty for delay of game.
Hoang connected with Nalley for a goal with the two-man advantage to tie the score at 2-2, but the 49ers prematurely ended their power play–an atrocious habit the 49ers have developed this season. SC scored on their own 2-man moments and the 3-2 lead. Philip Adams earned the win and played less than one period of hockey while St. Louis played a solid game.
The 49ers got a chance at revenge, and they took advantage.
Sean Hoang and James Robelotto each had one goal and one helper in the 49ers’ 3-1 victory over USC on Saturday night in front of an energetic 49er crowd.
USC took a 1-0 lead early when Adam Zacuto made a miraculous shot, diving and still managing to go top shelf over Alex Miklovic. It would have taken another miracle for the Trojans to get one past Miklovic the rest of the night.
All the 49ers’s lines showed a more aggressive, intense spirit tonight reminiscent of their dominant win over San Jose State in October. Even the fourth line of Colin Hurt, Ingemar Grave and Scott Shapiro cycled the puck well to wear down the Trojan defenders.
In the 2nd period, Robelotto had one-timer a power play goal to tie the game at 1-1. Nine minutes later, Hoang netted his own power play goal on a tight wraparound for the go-ahead goal.
For the remainder of the second and most of the third, the 49ers outskated, outhit, and outhustled USC. Penalty killers were effective too allowing only one power play goal on seven chances.
Joe Nalley finished off the scoring with a shorthanded empty netter. The win mercifully ends an 8-game losing streak for the Beach.
Long Beach gets USC one more time before the end of the semester on Friday Dec. 4 at 7:30pm in Anaheim. It will be the 49ers’ first game back after the Thanksgiving break. Long Beach comes right back home with Cal State Fullerton on Sat. Dec. 5 at 7:30pm. CSUF beat Long Beach 6-5 in the 8th round of a shootout to open the season.
Reports From Phil Goodman and Long Beach State Ice Hockey