Photo by Matt Boggs
By David Almeda—Staff Writer
Facing a 6-1 Vanderbilt team on a six game winning streak, Kennesaw State’s club ice hockey team faced a tough challenge on their short road trip to Nashville.
After two solid frames against the Commodores, KSU allowed four goals in the third period, leading to a 5-2 loss, their second of the season.
“I don’t know if we were overconfident going into that third, but we stopped playing,” head coach Sean Bernhardt said. “We started taking penalties, kind of got wrapped up in the emotion of it.”
The Owls (4-2-1) began the contest well, outshooting Vanderbilt 17-9 in the first period and holding one of the top scoring teams in their division to one point in the first two frames. Devan Bousquet and rookie Alex Dolhon both scored in the first and second periods, respectively, giving KSU a 2-1 lead heading into the final frame.
“The first two periods, we played a really good structured game,” Bernhardt said. “We played the way we wanted to play.”
The emotions began to surface for KSU when team workhorse Larry Adegoke suffered a lower body injury in a collision during the second period. He would later return in the third, but Bernhardt has not determined if he will be in the starting lineup against Tulane on Saturday night.
“He was able to come back and play but we got kind of caught up in that and we got away from our game,” Bernhardt said.
From there, it was all downhill for KSU. Vanderbilt cashed in on Owls penalties with three power play goals before adding a fourth score with 2:44 left in the game, leading to the eventual 5-2 loss for KSU.
The Owls will now return home to face Tulane Saturday night at 10:00 p.m. at the Ice Forum.
Follow @Sports_Sentinel for updates and live tweeting of Saturday’s game.
