 |  |
Wheeling Jesuit too much for young Hawks
BETHANY, WVa. -- Wheeling Jesuit University held
Shorter University scoreless in the first half en route to an 18-1
victory over the Hawks on Tuesday night in Bethany, WVa.
The Cardinals, one of the top programs in NCAA Division II, improved to 4-2 with the win while Shorter saw its three-game winning streak snapped and fell to 4-2. It was the second game of a four-game Spring Break road trip for the Hawks.
Neither Shorter nor Wheeling Jesuit could find the back of the net early on, but the Cardinals went on a furious tear to end the first period and set the tone for the remainder of the match.
Wheeling Jesuit scored five times in the final 4:54 of the first period -- Aaron Gutentag started the spurt with a goal at the 4:54 mark to put Wheeling up 1-0 and capped the run with a second goal with 21 ticks left in the frame -- to lead 5-0 after 15 minutes.
The Cardinals kept the pressure on in the second period, getting three goals from Landon DelPrince to go into the halftime locker room up 9-0.
Wheeling then netted the first seven goals of the second half to go up 16-0.
The Cardinals' Kevin Figaniak scored five straight goals to open the third period and a Michael Matthews goal off an assist from Michael McDowell finally ended Shorter's scoring drought with 1:02 left in the third period, but it was too little too late for the weary Hawks, who are playing shorthanded after seeing three players injured in yesterday's win over LaRoche.
Wheeling Jesuit held a 59-9 advantage in shots and a 54-31 edge in ground balls. Shorter suffered 41 turnovers and won just 6 of 21 faceoffs in the loss.
The Hawks return to action tomorrow, Wednesday, March 16 when they take on Walsh at 4 p.m.
