The Husky Hockey team started out the 2003-2004 season on the right
foot last Friday night, exploding for a record setting 29 goals in a rout of
Central Washington University 29-0.

The 29 goals surpassed the previous record of 21 against Walla Walla
Community College, where the Huskies skated to a 21-1 victory.

Scoring for the Huskies was not a problem the entire night, with five
players netting hat-tricks, courtesy of eight assists dealt by UW
defenseman Shayne Sasseen. Team Captain Brett Lawrence netted four
goals along with seven assists, totaling 11 points and Assistant Captain
Sean O’Brien put seven across the line, a new Husky Hockey record. The
amazing goal total broke the record of six goals against Stanford
University, held by 2000-2002 team captain Brian Mead.

Also getting in on the action was center Adam Senta, who scored his first
Husky Hockey hat trick. He was joined by forwards Jamie O’Brien and
Cody Vandermyn, each with four goals and their first Husky Hockey hat
tricks.

More firsts for the Huskies continued through the night, with forwards
Chris Carter, Hadley Ma, Brad Hajner, Jared Pisinger, and defenseman
Doug Faust scored their first goals in their Husky Hockey career.
Goaltenders Matt Harrow and Robby Branom also got in on the action,
both dealing shutouts and Branom’s first shutout as a Husky goaltender.

Scoring started fast for the Huskies in the first period, with center Adam
Senta firing a rocket from just over the blue line on the left side of the ice
over the shoulder of Central Goaltender Aaron Harvey within the first
minute of the game. UW also added two power play goals in the first
period, in which they were two for two in power plays. Lawrence put the
first one in 6:07 in the first, courtesy of the tripping call on Central
defenseman James Hogan. The second was a redirected shot by forward
Cody Vandermyn in front of the CWU net, with defenseman Michael
Spector firing the puck into the crease.

The second period was the straw that broke the CWU defense’s back
and spirit with the Huskies putting the puck past Harvey 16 times. After
proving in the first that the Huskies had an effective power play, they
proved they have an even more effective penalty kill line. The Dawgs
enjoyed the man down session in the second, with forward Sean O’Brien
scoring two shorthanded goals in 55 seconds, one on a stolen pass and
breakaway past a helpless Harvey.

The third period was one of a slower pace, with the Huskies only taking
12 shots on goal. In the previous two periods, the Dawgs put 37 and 36
on net respectively, with Central only posting one shot each period. The
third was more of a practice session for the Huskies, with emphasis on
working systems that they will use the rest of the year.

“We wanted to pass more in their zone, kind of play a little bit more
rotation, a little dump and chase,” said Coach Cindy Dayley, “we wanted
to work on more systems and passing in the third, which we did.”

Overall, jitters were basically non-existent even though this was the first
game of the 2003-2004 season, and good use was made to solidify play
to prepare for the rest of the PAC-8 and ACHA agenda.

“It was important to show that we can play solid, and we came out and
showed it tonight. Hopefully we can do the same tomorrow and get the
season rolling on a good start,” said Lawrence.