Sports
Ohio Hockey cruises to a series sweep with a 5-2 win over Delaware
By: Craig Neal
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ATHENS, Ohio (WOUB) – The Ohio Bobcats (11-5) were back in Bird Ice Arena as they looked
to sweep Delaware (3-8) on home ice after they routed the Blue Hens the previous night 8-0.
The previous night’s win snapped a four-game losing streak, and the Bobcats built off of that in a 5-2 win.
The first period saw Ohio swarming to the puck and getting a lot of chances early, giving
Delaware’s goalie Timmy Briley some scares. The Blue Hens came out looking a little stifled by
the Bobcats’ intensity, but they continued to play with a bend-don’t-break style. There was a lot of
aggressive play on the boards from both sides, really setting the tone for the game early.
With ten minutes left in the period, Mathieu Ovaert would find Breyden Zupsansky, who would put
one in the back of the net to give Ohio the 1-0 lead. The Bobcats would come out playing even
more physical after that goal, which would result in Zupsansky finding the net again 3 minutes
later with Ovaert and Brady Gilbert assisting.
The Bobcats passed the puck very well as Delaware was still trying to find their footing.
They had trouble keeping possession of the puck due to Ohio’s aggressive play. Late into the
first period, freshman Alex Thomas would put one in the net to extend the Bobcats’ lead to 4-0.
That would bring an end to the first period with Ohio getting 21 shots on goal while Delaware
only had eight.
In the second period, the Blue Hens would come out swinging with Tommy Tracy getting one to
go in off an assist from Chance Debolt and Brady Burke. That goal shocked the Bobcats, but
they didn’t linger long as both teams started to work the puck up the ice well. This was the point
in the game where Delaware looked like they settled in; on the other hand, Ohio had a few shifts
where they looked a little sluggish.
Gianni DiVita would get a roughing penalty for the Bobcats, but Ohio’s penalty kill was still
applying pressure. Delaware would play really well on defense during this stretch, making Ohio
make tough passes. Eventually Ohio would find a way through the Blue Hens defense as Lance
Mengel would get himself a goal off a feed from Thomas to extend the Bobcat lead back to
three, making the score 4-1.
Following the goal, Delaware’s Conor Gagon would get sent to the penalty box for holding.
However, during this power play, Ohio looked slightly complacent, making bad passes and not
keeping possession of the puck. Despite this, the Bobcats would find the net yet again with
Zupsansky off the assist from Blake Dustin, and captain Noah Holt. That goal gave Zupsansky a
hat trick and Ohio a 5-1 lead.
The Blue Hens would respond quickly with Sean Tyrrell getting one past the Bobcats off the
assist from Leighton Biesiadecki to make the score 5-2. The game would get very physical as
the second period waned, but the officials let them play. Delaware would get some great
chances in front of the net, but Ohio Goalie Matt Zazon made some spectacular saves. The
second period would end with Ohio having 37 total shots on goal to Delaware’s 19.
The third period would see Ohio play very well to close out the game despite Delaware playing
aggressively and physically on defense. This physicality would result in Biesiadecki getting sent to
the box while Briley would make some great saves for the Blue Hens, with Ohio looking for the
dagger.
After Burke got sent to the penalty box late in the period, the Bobcats would keep possession of
the puck well to end the game with a final score of 5-2. Ohio would end with 61 total shots on
goal to Delaware’s 24. Following the win, Head Coach Barry Schutte attributed the sweep to the
team playing more connected than they did during their four-game skid.
The Ohio Bobcats will next take the ice in Windy City for the Chicago Showcase, where
some of the top teams in ACHA Division One gather to compete as they prepare for the national
tournament in March.
The Bobcats’ opponents at the showcase will be the University of Nevada Las
Vegas on Nov. 20, Jamestown on Nov. 21, and Minot State to round off the
showcase on Nov. 22.