The FAU ice hockey team started its 2003 campaign with a 3-2 overtime win over the University of South Florida.
Last year FAU finished with a perfect record of 12-0 but they were shut out of post-season play because they did not play enough quality opponents. South Florida was just the beginning of a schedule that will change that as the Owls try to repeat an undefeated season and shock the nation.
“We are not ducking anyone,” coach Michael Morris says. “We are making sure that [the NCAA] cannot overlook us.”
Morris is making each and every one of his players earn their spots. In the game against USF he started Louie Garone in goal instead of Tyler Roach, last year’s starter, to make a point.
The Owls have their work cut out for them as they play many teams from the College Hockey South conference and many more from across the country. These teams have extra incentive, as they must hear how FAU is undefeated and continue to outplay opponents.
With double the opponents on this year’s schedule, the Owls will have to play disciplined hockey to advance nationally. That is something they had trouble with against USF.
The Owls committed plenty of penalties against USF, even giving their opponent a five-on-three advantage. Luckily for FAU the Ice Bulls had trouble finding the net for most of the night.
USF did get a power-play goal and had a chance to win the game early in overtime as Steve Clark missed a break-away shot against Garone.
With three minutes to go in overtime, Zack St. Hilaire hit Adam Arnet in front of the USF net for the deciding goal. It was Arnet’s second goal of the game.
The Owls and their fans, which numbered in the hundreds, went crazy after Arnet’s winner. USF will most definitely be circling the next meeting with FAU on their schedule.
The Owls will next be facing Mary Washington College at the Pines Ice Arena in Pembroke Pines. FAU will be using Pines, Incredible Ice, and the Miami Arena as hosts for their home games this season.
After facing a few small colleges, the Owls will host Rutgers University and later in the year they will be traveling to Houston to play Texas A&M. Also of note on the FAU schedule will be UCF, the Citadel, and Florida Gulf Coast, a team FAU beat six times last year.
The Owls have not gained the respect to be ranked or warrant FSU and UF to want to play them yet, but they are getting there.
With another undefeated season the Owls will get the respect they deserve and the hard work of all the players will finally pay off.
