 "Photo: The Penn/ Brock Fleeger")
The IUP Crimson Hawks battled their way to the CHMA Championship Game just to see the championship slip away to the West Virginia Mountaineers by a score of 8-2.
The first period seemed promising for the Crimson Hawks.
They were able to get control of the puck early and maintain it for a good amount of the first period.
Sixty-three seconds into the game, the Crimson Hawks were able to take the early advantage when defenseman Corey Beers passed the puck to center Joe Ford, who was able to get it past WVU goaltender Chris Wilder.
The Hawks had everything going for them until the Mountaineers were able to get a goal of their own with a little over seven minutes left in the first period.
The Hawks led in shots 17-9 at the end of the first, but the Mountaineers were on the verge of turning the tables on IUP.
Even during a power play with 2:10 remaining in the first and another in the second period, the Crimson Hawks were unable to score.
WVU’s Brent Hart scored against goaltender Padraig Carey.
WVU was able to take the lead in the game, and they never gave it up.
Within two minutes of the Mountaineers taking that lead, the Crimson Hawks were called for roughing and again for crosschecking. These calls gave the Mountaineers a 5-on-3 opportunity, during which they took advantage and scored again.
The Crimson Hawks led in shots the entire game, but they were unable to convert any of those chances into goals.
While the Hawks struggled, the Mountaineers added insult to injury with a fourth goal with a bit over three minutes left in the second.
The Hawks outshot the Mountaineers 45-24, but Wilder was on fire, stopping 43 of 45 shots. He was also awarded the CHMA Playoff MVP by stopping 76 of 80 shots.
Be the first to comment on this article!