Roller Hockey Earns National Tournament Bid
Second place finish in Regionals helps team move on to bigger stage
SECRHL June 18th, 2008 at 10:12PM June 18th, 2008 10:13PMThe University of Tampa's Roller Hockey team traveled to Snellville, Ga. to play in the National Collegiate Roller Hockey's Southeast Division Regional Championships last weekend.
The Spartans were given the third seed in Pool A which meant they had to face Western Carolina and College of Charleston in the round robin portion of regionals.
Tampa's first opponent was the Wildcats of Western Carolina. The Spartans were seeking revenge from the 'Cats after a 5-3 loss to them a week before in Savannah, Ga. Freshman, Rob Harrison scored the first two goals of the game giving Tampa a 2-0 lead, but Western Carolina came right back knotting the game at two at the end of the first period. The Spartans were given an early power play in the second period, where one-time specialist, Alex Schawiak, sniped one past the Wildcats goalie to give the Spartans a 3-2 lead. Pat Sheehan then scored a goal 23 seconds later making the score 4-2 at the end of the second period. Harrison then scored two more goals in the third claiming the games first star and giving the Spartans a 6-2 victory.
UT returned to the rink a few hours later to face College of Charleston. This was an extremely important game for the Spartans because if they beat College of Charleston it would give them a bye to the semifinals. Sheehan started the scoring off for the Spartans, but they quickly fell behind to the Cougars 2-1.
Freshman Jeff Kotcher decided he had seen enough of the Cougars lead so he went on the rink and scored two quick goals followed by another first period goal by Paul Hinrichsen. The Spartans took a 4-2 lead into the second period and only built on the lead. Five unanswered goals were scored by Harrison (two), Jimmy Westwood, Schawiak and Jeff Kotcher. The Spartans won the game 10-3 behind great goaltending by Guy Antonacci and received a bye to the semifinals.
After an important nights rest, the Spartans headed back to the rink to play back-to-back defending Southeast Champions, Emory Eagles in the semi finals. After a scoreless first period, Tampa's Jimmy Westwood scored two second period goals giving UT a 2-0 lead going into the third period. Emory came out with a plethora of energy in the third tying the game at two. After trading back and forth goals and a great defensive play by Jon Halpern, Jeff Kotcher scored what proved to be the game-winning goal with four minutes left in the game. Rob Harrison's last minute goal shut the door, giving Tampa a 5-3 victory and its first ever trip to the Southeast finals.
In the finals, Tampa ran into the first place Elon Phoenix. The winner of the game would receive an automatic bid to Nationals which is taking place in Colorado Springs, Co. Elon scored two quick goals taking a 2-0 lead, but Tampa fought back making the score 3-2 Elon at the end of the first period. Tampa came out flying in the second period as they tied the game with a beautiful end-to-to dangle by Jeff Kotcher. In the end, the Spartans were defeated by the Phoenix 6-4 as they won the Southeast Region Championship.
The Spartans now had to sit back and hope to receive an at large bid to Nationals. On Monday March 3, the Spartans were notified that they had received a bid to Nationals in Colorado Springs, CO.
Team captain Brett Kotcher said, "This is unbelievable! I'm so pumped and can't wait to play. The team will continue to work hard and hopefully bring another National Championship back to the university."
Kotcher went on to thank Charles Yezak, Director of Campus Recreation, saying, "We couldn't have done it without him. He gave us tons of support and vital financial help to keep the program going."
The Spartans were given the third seed in Pool A which meant they had to face Western Carolina and College of Charleston in the round robin portion of regionals.
Tampa's first opponent was the Wildcats of Western Carolina. The Spartans were seeking revenge from the 'Cats after a 5-3 loss to them a week before in Savannah, Ga. Freshman, Rob Harrison scored the first two goals of the game giving Tampa a 2-0 lead, but Western Carolina came right back knotting the game at two at the end of the first period. The Spartans were given an early power play in the second period, where one-time specialist, Alex Schawiak, sniped one past the Wildcats goalie to give the Spartans a 3-2 lead. Pat Sheehan then scored a goal 23 seconds later making the score 4-2 at the end of the second period. Harrison then scored two more goals in the third claiming the games first star and giving the Spartans a 6-2 victory.
UT returned to the rink a few hours later to face College of Charleston. This was an extremely important game for the Spartans because if they beat College of Charleston it would give them a bye to the semifinals. Sheehan started the scoring off for the Spartans, but they quickly fell behind to the Cougars 2-1.
Freshman Jeff Kotcher decided he had seen enough of the Cougars lead so he went on the rink and scored two quick goals followed by another first period goal by Paul Hinrichsen. The Spartans took a 4-2 lead into the second period and only built on the lead. Five unanswered goals were scored by Harrison (two), Jimmy Westwood, Schawiak and Jeff Kotcher. The Spartans won the game 10-3 behind great goaltending by Guy Antonacci and received a bye to the semifinals.
After an important nights rest, the Spartans headed back to the rink to play back-to-back defending Southeast Champions, Emory Eagles in the semi finals. After a scoreless first period, Tampa's Jimmy Westwood scored two second period goals giving UT a 2-0 lead going into the third period. Emory came out with a plethora of energy in the third tying the game at two. After trading back and forth goals and a great defensive play by Jon Halpern, Jeff Kotcher scored what proved to be the game-winning goal with four minutes left in the game. Rob Harrison's last minute goal shut the door, giving Tampa a 5-3 victory and its first ever trip to the Southeast finals.
In the finals, Tampa ran into the first place Elon Phoenix. The winner of the game would receive an automatic bid to Nationals which is taking place in Colorado Springs, Co. Elon scored two quick goals taking a 2-0 lead, but Tampa fought back making the score 3-2 Elon at the end of the first period. Tampa came out flying in the second period as they tied the game with a beautiful end-to-to dangle by Jeff Kotcher. In the end, the Spartans were defeated by the Phoenix 6-4 as they won the Southeast Region Championship.
The Spartans now had to sit back and hope to receive an at large bid to Nationals. On Monday March 3, the Spartans were notified that they had received a bid to Nationals in Colorado Springs, CO.
Team captain Brett Kotcher said, "This is unbelievable! I'm so pumped and can't wait to play. The team will continue to work hard and hopefully bring another National Championship back to the university."
Kotcher went on to thank Charles Yezak, Director of Campus Recreation, saying, "We couldn't have done it without him. He gave us tons of support and vital financial help to keep the program going."