The Oregon club hockey team returned to Eugene after dropping three on the road in Los Angeles.
The Ducks lost to USC 7-1 Thursday, and then to UCLA Saturday (6-3) and Sunday (3-2), respectively.
Although the Ducks lost every game this weekend, they remain optimistic about the season.
“Overall, the quality of play was better than against Stanford,” forward Andrew Belcher said. “We are a much better team after this weekend. I saw more of what we are capable of as a team.”
Road rash and sleep deprivation marred the team Thursday night, allowing USC to shove seven pucks past Oregon goalie Josh Hardin. Five of those snuck in during the last period when the Ducks suffered with over 20 minutes in penalties.
Oregon’s Mike Tornabene saved the Ducks from a shutout when he scored in the last minute ­ the team’s only goal of the game. Tornabene had four goals during the weekend.
“Against USC we came out too slow,” Belcher said. “Then we had over 20 minutes of penalties in the third period.”
Penalties kept pestering the Ducks throughout the weekend, team captain Tyler Shaffar said.
“When you spend a whole period in the box, you’re going to have problems,” Shaffar said. “We have to reevaluate what they are doing out there.”
Shaffar attributes some of the problems to playing the day of travel. Several players had only three hours of sleep that night.
“It makes sense that the third period is crappy,” Shaffar said. “Against USC we just fell apart.”
The games in L.A. were much more physical — but that worked in Oregon’s favor as well.
“They’ve got a couple of goons on their team, but I guess we do too,” Shaffar said. “Physically, we outmatched the other team after the first period of the UCLA game.”
After goalie Josh Hardin let in five goals in the USC game, Joe Fagliano stepped in. The alternate goalie played well in the two last periods, letting only two more slide behind him.
“We were really happy to see him step up,” Shaffar said.
Then on Saturday, Hardin got fired up.
“If Josh can play like he did on Saturday night every game, we’ll be in good shape,” Shaffar said.
Craig Platzke, the alternate team captain, specializes in the power play.
“He is crucial for us to win,” Shaffar added.
Tim Gibbons, who has played well defensively in the first five games in his Oregon career, leaves Shaffar optimistic about the rest of the season.
The weekend was rough on the players physically as well as mentally. Several players are sick, and some minor injuries have sidelined a few for this week. Shaffar said, however, that nothing will keep anyone out for too long.