Sports
Ohio Hockey continues dominance with 8-4 victory over Drexel
< < Back toATHENS, Ohio (WOUB) — It was once again hockey night in Athens as the Ohio Bobcats hosted the Drexel Dragons. Despite their name, it’s the Bobcats who are on fire right now, winners of eight out of their last nine.
They kept that fire burning right from puck drop as not even 90 seconds in Ryan Higgins snaps the puck home off of a rebound and puts it in to give the Bobcats a 1-0 lead.
The game would remain 1-0 until about five to go in the first as on an odd man rush Andrew Sacca ripped it from the high slot and Aiden Grecko was in the right spot to stuff home the rebound and extend the Bobcats lead.
In the second, the Bobcats had a 3-0 lead. A pretty display of passing led to Andrew Wells making it a 4-0 lead for the Bobcats.
The only thing missing from the game was a goal from the American Collegiate Hockey Association leading scorer. But Luc Reeve changes that as he wrists one home for his 25th of the season to give the Bobcats a six-goal lead late in the second period.
A key reason for the success of Reeve’s line recently has been the return of a contributor from last year. After missing the first few months of this season, sophomore forward Phil Angervil is playing in his fifth game back with the Bobcats.
“I couldn’t be happier,” Angervil said. “I love my teammates. I love playing hockey so just being out there makes me happy.”
Just like his last name states, Angervil plays with some anger. He flies around the ice, playing a physical brand of hockey and isn’t afraid to get in his share of scrums.
“The biggest thing from me is that he brings a lot of energy to the room and to us every week,” head coach Lionel Mauron said. “He’s always someone who is happy to be here and works hard. Then in games he can create a lot of offense and he’s got a way to find the back of the net.”
Despite the Dragons scoring three goals in the third period, Ohio skated away with an 8-4 victory. The victory gives them 20 wins on the season and nine of their last 10.
For Ohio, it’s all about keeping their heads level in order to continue their impressive play.
“I think now we just need to pay more attention to little details and keep the guys engaged and interested,” Mauron said. “Then obviously we want to use that positive energy to make them work harder. I think they’re responding well and obviously we’re feeling confident about ourselves, so we’re in a good spot right now.”