While splitting a pair of non-conference games at home this weekend against the Fresno State Bulldogs, the Oregon Club hockey team learned some positive news about its future travel plans.
After a dominating 10-4 victory over Fresno on Friday, the Ducks were hampered by penalties and could not overcome an aggressive Bulldog attack in a 6-5 loss a day later. However, the disappointment of the loss may have been overshadowed by the Ducks’ invitation to the Pac-8 Tournament. Oregon learned of its draw as the tournament’s number three seed after Friday’s victory.
“It’s always important just to get in because anything can happen,” senior Justin Keeland said.
Oregon will face second-seeded California in the first round of the tournament on Feb. 18 and 19. The Ducks managed a split against the Golden Bears in the first meeting of the season.
“We know how they are going to play, and we have the team to beat them,” forward Ryan Jones said.
In the first game against Fresno State on Friday, Oregon displayed
aggressiveness early and established a 4-0 advantage after the first period. Matt Olson, Sam Driver, Justin Savich and Jones each had one goal apiece for the Ducks, who came into the game with a 15-3-2 record.
The onslaught continued less than two minutes into the second period as Savich scored his second of three goals to put Oregon on top 5-0.
Fresno State responded with two unanswered goals, but the Ducks responded with five more to take a commanding 10-2 lead; eventually securing a 10-4 victory. Olson, along with Savich, scored three goals and Driver finished with two. Oregon goalie Matt Nuernberg had 29 saves, and the Duck offense finished with 36 shots on goal.
“We were feeling pretty confident,” Olson said. “Everybody was playing well and everything was clicking.”
Saturday’s contest produced a different story for Oregon. Penalties proved costly, and the Bulldogs took advantage by scoring five power play goals. In total, Oregon finished with 12 penalties.
“That has been our story all year,” Jones said. “It’s a lack of discipline.”
The Ducks got on the board first near the end of period one with a goal by Jones off an assist from Olson.
But after a Jacob Bockser penalty, Fresno State tied the game on a power-play goal and followed with another goal to take its first lead of the weekend at 2-1. The lead was short-lived, though, as Oregon responded less than a minute later with a goal from Ted Martin. Forty seconds later, Martin gave the Ducks a 3-2 lead with his second goal of the day.
Oregon again relinquished the lead as Fresno State reeled off four straight goals to take a 6-3 lead. It was the fourth lead change of the night.
Oregon made things interesting in the final minutes with two goals to cut the lead to one. Savich scored his fourth goal in two games to make the score 6-4, and Olson followed to give Oregon hope with five minutes remaining.
But the Ducks came up short as Fresno State was able to thwart the Oregon attack in the final minutes and preserved the 6-5 victory. Though Oregon held a 42-30 advantage in shots on goal, it was Fresno’s five power goals that proved to be the difference.
“We had a lot of determination,” Olson said. “But, unfortunately, the puck didn’t bounce our way in the end.”
Oregon has four games remaining before heading to Berkeley for the Pac-8 Tournament. The Ducks travel to Western Washington on Feb. 4 and 5 and return home the following weekend to face Boise State.
Luke Andrews is a freelance reporter for the Daily Emerald
