December
5, 2003
Blue Devils ambush Patriots, win 2-1
WOODBRIDGE, VA -- Duke defeated George Mason 2-1 Friday night
in an ACCHL contest to pick up two valuable league points. The
Blue Devils took on the Patriots for the second straight game
and again struggled to put the puck past outstanding goaltender
Paul Balcerzac. The Blue Devils peppered Balcerzac all night
and had numerous scoring chances. Indeed, over the Blue Devils’
last two games, Balcerzac has stopped 108 out of 111 shots.
Duke outshot the home Patriots 57-23 and got on the scoreboard
first on a Robert Fogarty goal midway through the first period.
George Mason responded with a power play goal early in the
second period to tie the game.
That second goal for Duke came off of the stick of Dave Bradley
late in the second period. Bradley fed Jesse Swanko behind
the net and then stuffed home the rebound after Swanko’s
walkout attempt squeezed through the legs of Balcerzac.
Bradley’s goal turned out to be the game-winning tally
for the Blue Devils. Both teams were held off the board in
the third as both Duke goalie Clayton Jernigan and Balcerzac
made several impressive saves. The Blue Devils got redemption
after tying the Patriots 1-1 at home in the two teams’
last meeting.
GAME NOTES
Dave Bradley and Clayton Jernigan were Duke’s Mad Dog
Players of the Game…Duke’s win was a gutsy effort
as six key Blue Devils were out of the lineup due to either
injury or academic commitments… Duke has final exams
next Monday through Friday… Duke traveled to the game
in style in a 21st century luxury cruiser containing several
large televisions, a plasma screen, DVD players, VCRs, a refrigerator,
numerous private sleeping cabins, a card table, some couches,
and a Sega Genesis video game system... Duke
Magazine reporter Pat Adams accompanied the team on the
bus, in the locker room, and on the bench during the game.
The magazine is going to have a two-page feature on the Duke
Hockey Team in its February-March issue.
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