The University of Cincinnati's semi-varsity hockey team improved its record to 2-0 on Friday, defeating the Eastern Kentucky University Colonels 5-2 at the Cincinnati Gardens, and claimed the "Golden Water Bottle" trophy, similar to the "Victory Bell" the football team challenges Miami University for. UC defeated this same EKU team last weekend at the Lexington Ice Center.
Friday's game was the first home game of the 2007-08 American Collegiate Hockey Association season for the Bearcats.
The game began as a defensive battle with both teams trading power play opportunities, with neither team being able to scratch the scoreboard.
With just over three minutes remaining in the first period, the Colonels scored first when they sent the puck out of their defensive zone while on a penalty kill, giving them a short-handed breakaway, and found the back of the net for the goal.
The Bearcats responded just over a minute into the second half when junior forward Aaron Conn knocked home a rebound to knot the game at one goal apiece. However, the Colonels took back the lead halfway through the period.
Losing the lead seemed to fire up the Bearcats as they responded with shot after shot on goal. Finally, with five minutes to go in the second, sophomore forward Zach Markert tapped home a rebound to tie up the game at two. Markert then gave the Cats their first lead of the game when he scored his second goal almost right after his first.
With a 3-2 lead to start the third, Conn was called for holding, putting the Bearcats a man down and in a penalty kill situation for the fifth time in the match. The Colonels could not take advantage, however, with freshman goaltender Ryan Osbourne shutting down the EKU power play.
As the power play came to an end, the Bearcats extended their lead, despite being down a man, when Zac 'Homer' Nelson received a pass from sophomore forward Jarell Gillens at the side of the net. Nelson beat the EKU goalie top-shelf to go up 4-2.
Gillens later scored a goal, finding himself on a breakaway, beating several Colonels defenders to net his first goal as a Bearcat with just over six minutes remaining to round out the scoring and seal the game for UC.
The Bearcats play the Louisville Cardinals on Friday and Saturday. Friday's game is scheduled for 10 p.m. at Louisville while Saturday's contest is slated for 9 p.m. at the Cincinnati Gardens.
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