(Mountlake Terrace, WA) - On a cold Halloween night, the Husky Hockey
team was able to shake the ghouls that have cost them four consecutive
games and take the first game of a two game series against the
University of Oregon.

With a final tally of five Husky goals to three Duck goals, the Huskies took
the first game of the four games that they are going to play against each
other this season for the Athletic Awards I-5 Cup.

The Dawgs have taken the cup title the last three seasons since the
development of the prestigious cup in 2000.

The ghouls that cost the Huskies the last four games have been
turnovers, penalties, and late game meltdowns. This time, the trio found
themselves on the Oregon bench, and the Dawgs were able to capitalize.

The Dawgs were able to take advantage of the power plays that the
Ducks were giving them and put in two power play goals, while the Husky
penalty kill line only allowed one power play goal in the waning minutes
of the game. The goals by Sean O’Brien in the first period and TJ
Anderson in the second were enough for the Dawgs to stave off a late
Oregon rally.

However, the Ducks played trick and treat in the opening minute of the
game, as Oregon center Michael Tornabene caught the Dawgs and
everyone else in the arena off guard with an unassisted goal in the
opening seconds of the first stanza.

The Dawgs would have opportunities to answer in the first period, but
came up short against Oregon goaltender Joe Fagliano. On a shorthanded
opportunity, Husky captain Brett Lawrence navigated the puck between
the legs of an Oregon defender only to have his shot turned away by
Fagliano.

Lawrence would not be turned away twice.

Brett hooked up with fellow captain Sean O’Brien with six minutes left in
the first putting the puck underneath a diving Fagliano and knotting the
score at one all.

From here on out, the Huskies never looked back as they enjoyed the
shot advantage all night, and Fagliano just could not keep up with the
flurry of shots the Huskies were putting on goal.

Later in the first, the Dawgs netted their first power play goal of the night
as Sean O’Brien put a rebound back in front of the net, and scored again
in the second period as he capitalized on an errant Duck pass and beat
Fagliano low glove side.

The Ducks made it interesting in the third, scoring a power play goal
courtesy of Tornabene and put in a second even strength goal, putting
the Ducks within two.

Despite the late flurry, the Dawgs proved to be too much for the Oregon
Ducks and skated away with the victory, with a shot advantage of 37
Husky hockey shots to 27 Oregon shots.

The next game in the Athletic Awards I-5 Cup continues on Saturday
night, with the Dawgs closing the weekend series against Oregon.