Friday, October 11th, 2002

Quintin Schiller forechecks Walla Walla.
Photograph by Leanne Burkle

Hockey fans gathered at Olympicview Arena in Mountlake Terrace to
witness a delicate dance of intimidation played on the ice. The first game
of the hockey season opened with the UW Huskies and Walla Walla
College Wolfpack handling the puck to entertain their loyal fans. The
Huskies chalked up their first win in the American Collegiate Hockey
Association, 7-4.

The Husky team underestimated the Wolfpack’s organization and
aggression on the ice. Walla Walla member Adam Hubbard assisted
teammate Mike Steinke to score against the Huskies within the first two
minutes of the game. However, the goal awakened the stunned UW
team, who went 26-0 last season, as they rallied against the Wolfpack,
proving to their fans that they were still in the game.

Husky Quintin Schiller scrambled to slide the puck towards Sean O’Brien
during an intense struggle at the net to score for the Huskies. Three
minutes later, the two switched roles to help the UW team gain on the
Walla Walla players and allowing Schiller the first goal of his Husky
career.

With 9:15 left in the first period, the Wolfpack went on their first power
play of the game, but went scoreless due to a determined UW team.
Schiller proved the Huskies were not to be taken advantage of, scoring
his second goal of the game to bring the score to 3-1 by an assist from
behind the net from Charlie Walters. The UW was awarded a penalty shot
with 30 seconds left in the period when a Walla Walla defenseman
knocked the net off as Jamie O’Brien put the puck in the net. The Wolfpack
goaltender proved his prowess at the goal as Husky captain Brett
Lawrence took the honors of the penalty. His shot did not convert, the
puck first hitting the goalie’s stick and then off the crossbar.

The UW team opened the second period with better puck handling and
more awareness of where their teammates and opponents were on the
ice. However the period was filled with both teams taking numerous
penalties. Walla Walla again scored first in the second period on a power
play assist by Steinke to Jamee Kozik at 7:56. The Wolfpack took 10 shots
at the net this period compared to three in the previous, but Scott
Southard was not a goalie to be taken lightly, shutting down 13 of 15
shots taken at him in the first two periods. Southard, along with his fellow
Huskies, kept Walla Walla scoreless the rest of the period.

The Huskies made two out of three conversions on power plays. With
10:15 left in the period, Brett Lawrence received a beautiful pass from
defender Brian Smith, and then set up Shaun Lawrence to score on his
own rebound. A face-off in the Wolf Pack zone resulted in a slap shot by
Sean Beveridge, tipped and redirected into the net by Jamie O’Brien – his
first goal for the Husky Hockey team. Shayne Sasseen ended the period
on a power play goal from a pass by defenseman Eli Troyke – Sasseen’s
first Husky Hockey goal. The UW increased their lead, 6-2.

Period three was definitely a crowd-pleaser as numerous players checked,
slid, and collided with one another. Brett Lawrence got the Huskies
started, scoring by a quick snap shot into the upper right side of the goal.
Walla Walla put the pressure on UW goalie Craig Lawrence, who saved 9
of 11 shots. Wolf Pack members Steinke and Chris Ivany scored with
assists in the last seven minutes of the game, Steinke came from behind
the net and Ivany slapped one in from the point, ending the game in favor
of the Huskies, 7-4.

The Huskies spread the scoring of the 7 goals around each line during the
60 minutes of the game, with rookie Quintin Schiller from Madison, WI
netting two goals and one assist. Forward Sean O’Brien and defenseman
Sean Beveridge were +4 for the night. The Huskies netted three power
play goals out of their seven chances. Scott Southard shut down 13 of 15
shots in the first two periods and Craig Lawrence stopped 9 of 11 in the
third. The Huskies experienced an early wake-up call during the first
game, as they realized there is more work to be done before their trip to
Oregon.

Final Stats:
Huskies took 38 shots to Walla Walla’s 22
Huskies had 16 minutes in penalties to Walla Walla’s 14 minutes.
Score was UW 7, Walla Walla 4