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Post by Alex Goldsmith on Dec 13, 2008 0:06:44 GMT -5
Hey everyone,
Trojans will start late tonight against the 49ers. Another game is still being finished up (its in OT).
Zamboni hasn't started up and teams haven't taken the ice yet.
Talk to everyone soon.
-Alex
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Post by kj on Dec 13, 2008 0:41:14 GMT -5
Hey Alex! Good to be joining you tonight! I'm looking forward to an exciting game  |
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Post by kj on Dec 13, 2008 1:35:36 GMT -5
Isn't Gawlik only a junior? Shouldn't he be back next year?
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Post by Alex Goldsmith on Dec 13, 2008 2:11:25 GMT -5
That's interesting..... I was pretty sure Gawlik was a Senior from having talked to him. He's listed on our site as a Junior though...... I know he isn't playing for USC next semester as he's going abroad..... But I thought, being a senior, he was done after that. My mistake if it's not true. Either way, we're not seeing Gawlik again this season, which is a shame because the Trojans could really use his presence tonight.
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Post by Alex Goldsmith on Dec 13, 2008 4:17:20 GMT -5
My bad on Gawlik... He's done for the season, but he'll be back for his senior season next year. Game recap and official scorers coming shortly.
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Post by Alex Goldsmith on Dec 13, 2008 5:00:30 GMT -5
USC shocks Long Beach State 5-2, taking a 2-0 lead in the season series, and winning their 7th in a row. No win this season for USC, though, was more surprising to me than this one.
The Trojans were missing everyone (Roth, Frazier, Ozaki, Caravaggio, Gawlik, Cerrasuolo, Szentveri, Frias), were badly outplayed for the first two periods, had a raucous crowd cheering against them and were tired from a week of Finals.
Yet somehow, they were tied 1-1 after 1 and 2-2 after 2. Matt Buttweiler had a great game for USC, absolutely robbing some of the 49ers on sure-goal chances, and the team played scrappy enough to keep in it. Then the third period came, and USC had worn down LBSU enough to get 3 unanswered that sealed the 49ers fate. Here are some game notes:
- Mark Koechling was the player of the game for USC and really epitomized the Trojan effort. He played his best game by far this season, skating his butt off, and making a big impact offensively. It seemed like whenever USC needed a lift, Koechling came through. Trailing 2-1 in the second, Koechling found a rebound on a big shot from Matt Lewis and blasted it past Frankie Mitrano to tie the game up and pick up the team's spirits. Then midway through the third, Koechling jumpstarted a USC rally by somehow working around LBSU's top defenseman Tanner Woodbury. Koechling had Woodbury all over him but stayed strong on his skates, got around Woodbury and sent a beautiful feed in front for Clark McClanathan, who finished off what was eventually the game-winner.
- The first thing Coach Wilbur said to me after the game was, "Clark has become a scoring machine!" Indeed he has. Since he scored his first goal of the season in China (Game 2), Clark has scored 5 goals in as many games, along with several assists. Tonight he had the game winner. It was the kind of opportunity that he couldn't have NOT scored on. Making the performance equally impressive is that Clark threw up 6 times the previous night. Yet he still came back and got the game winner.
- Alex Lofthus had a great game too. His "nail in the coffin" fifth goal was brilliant. He intercepted a pass right in front of the LBSU bench, faked out a couple of defenders and backhanded it in. Fans emptied the arena at that point. He also had a great assist on Joyce's goal and a nice cross-ice pass to set up Lewis' first period goal.
- Michael Nijjar took a turn on the blueline tonight because of how shorthanded SC was defensively. He played a solid game for the Trojans back there before being moved back onto the first line during the third period.
- To modify a Mark Twain quote: "Rumors of my graduation have been greatly exaggerated." This applies not to me, but Michael Gawlik. My mistake.... He missed tonight's game and I thought he was a senior and that his USC career was done, but it's far from it. Gawlik is a junior, not a senior and will be back for the Trojans next season after studying abroad next semester. My bad.
- A couple of broadcasting firsts for me tonight. It's the first time in my broadcasting career at USC that the Trojans have won at their practice rink (Lakewood Glacial Gardens). It's always fun to return here as this was the place I made my broadcasting debut for USC, serving as the color guy with Andrew Samel. Another first though was being heckled by fans. Lakewood is a tricky arena in that you have to broadcast near the speakers with fans crammed into the extra bleachers above the team benches. When USC scored their 3rd and 4th goals, the fans near me heckled me with "Nobody's listening anyway" and "SC sucks and so do you". I didn't respond to them.... I didn't need to. The Trojans did the talking for me.
- LBSU was playing for a great cause tonight. It was Breast Cancer Awareness Night, and the home team was wearing black and pink jerseys. Team staff wore pink ties. Even Wilbur was wearing a pink tie of his own. I believe they raised a number in the mid-thousands through a jersey auction. Wonderful to see.
That's all I've got. USC finishes up the semester late tomorrow night in Culver City. Tune in to here it live!
Thanks,
Alex
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Post by Alex Goldsmith on Dec 13, 2008 5:10:08 GMT -5
USC OFFICIAL GOAL SCORERS
Lewis (Lofthus, Stallsmith) - PP
Koechling (Lewis, McClanathan)
McClanathan (Koechling, Scialfa)
Joyce (Lewis) - PP ---- NOTE: Lewis wasn't on the ice.... Lofthus actually had the assist.
Lofthus
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