Even with three consecutive one-goal losses in San Jose this past weekend, this season’s 49er Ice Hockey squad continues to grow and improve under Coach Sheehy.
“Those were three great hockey games we played this weekend,” said Coach Sheehy. “This team is really starting to come around.”
The 49ers lost on Thursday to Denver Univ. 5-4, then to San Jose on Friday 5-4, and to Stanford on Saturday 4-3. In each of the losses, the 49ers allowed a goal in the last minute of a period to let their opponent hang in the contest.
“We just need to focus on shutting teams down once we get that lead,” said Sheehy. “This weekend we let teams back in the final minute of the periods. That’s not going to happen anymore.”
And Sheehy’s message has been received by his players.
“Everyone one of us in the locker room knows that we can skate with good teams like Denver and San Jose State,” said junior defenseman Nick Kemp. “We just didn’t put them away when we had our opportunities.”
The 49ers will have another opportunity to take down the Spartans when SJSU visits Lakewood on Thursday night at 9:10pm. San Jose’s Web site claims they are “home of the LOUDEST barn in the west,” and the team is hoping to pack the Garden to let them know how wrong they are.
On Friday and Saturday, the 49ers will meet Northern Arizona University (5-1) for the first time ever. NAU moved up to D2 with San Diego State two years ago.
All three games can be heard live on-line via www.lbsuicehockey.com courtesy of Stretch & www.longbeachstate.com
Thursday 9:10pm, San Jose State (5-2)
Friday 9pm, Northern Arizona Univ. (5-1)
Saturday 7:30pm, Northern Arizona Univ.
From LBSU Hockey reports