Sports
Ohio Hockey wins fourth game in a row to stay undefeated
By: Ella Hughes
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ATHENS, Ohio (WOUB) — The Ohio Hockey team moves to 4-0 after dominating Cincinnati (2-3) in an 11-0 victory to sweep their second weekend series at Bird Ice Arena. After squeaking out a 5-3 win Friday night, the Bobcats were looking to show why they’re ranked No. 1 in the nation.
The first period started out fast with both teams laying hits and keeping most of the play to the outside along the boards. The Bearcats would limit Ohio’s chances maintaining the intensity from the night before. The first goal would come 16 minutes into the first when Brady Gilbert let one rip from the point, 1-0 Ohio. Just eight seconds later rookie Gianni Divita would score his first goal as a Bobcat to double the lead.
The period would end with Ohio leading 2-0 and outshooting Cincinnati 26-4. Bobcat goaltender Garrett Alderman was relaxed in the crease easily stopping low danger shots that came his way. Seven minutes into the second Will Cohen would net his fifth goal of the year to add onto the lead, 3-0 Ohio.
The Bobcats’ offense was rolling in the second and Nolan Abraham assisted by Alex Thomas and Drake Nabozny would score the fourth Ohio goal. Just 30 seconds left in the period, Laker Aldridge with the help of Noah Holt sent one past Andrew Young to score the third Bobcat goal of the second, 5-0 Ohio.
Cayden Dalton started the third period in net for Cincinnati and was holding his own for the first eight minutes, but it’s hard to keep this Ohio offense quiet. In just two minutes, Ohio would score four goals on 10 shots from Breyden Zupsansky, Divita, Barron Stibbe and Thomas. With 12 minutes to go in the third, the Bobcats were outshooting the Bearcats 57-11.
It seemed like every shot from an Ohio stick was finding the back of the net; their tenth goal would come from Lance Mengel assisted by Divita with three minutes left in the game. Cincy was struggling to keep the Bobcats from their zone and Zupsansky would add insult to injury, scoring goal number eleven with 30 seconds left. Ohio would dominate the Bearcats winning their fourth game in a row 11-0, outshooting them 66-13.
Captain Noah Holt spoke post-game about what made their offense so dynamic tonight.
“We were just playing the right way,” Holt said. “Getting back to Bobcats hockey, … we kind of got away from it last night, but when we play like that and everyone’s doing their job, it makes it a lot more fun. I think that’s where the eleven came from.”
Both teams will be on the road next weekend. Cincinnati will travel to Lexington to play the University of Kentucky while Ohio is headed to St. Louis to see Maryville University.