Friday, January 6, 2004
CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA -- The Duke Blue Devils and the Virginia Cavaliers took the ice Friday night for the first of two highly anticipated ACCHL league games at the Charlottesville Ice Park. After an approximately three week layoff due to a scheduled bye, a snowstorm, and the University of Kentucky’s cancellation, Duke came out rusty and fell to the deep Virginia squad 5-3.

The Devils were able to take advantage of some early defensive lapses by the Cavs and jumped out to 2-0 lead in the first period. Steve Lake scored first on a wrist shot from the left hash mark, and then Ben Tyson was able to tip a nice pass from Joe Crotty past Cavaliers goaltender Dave Adelman.

After taking the two-goal lead into the first intermission, the long layoff caught up with the Devils. Spurred on by a sizeable crowd that included the UVA pep band, the Cavs replaced Adelman between the pipes with Alex Pringle and were able to tie the score at 2-2 in the second period. Duke was forced to play the majority of the second short-handed due to a rash of penalties that began to take over the game.

After heading into the third still knotted at two, Virginia jumped in front early into the frame with a power play goal. Duke responded quickly to tie the game at three with a slapshot from the point by Kevin Ford that beat Pringle over the left shoulder. As the third period wound down, a costly penalty by Duke goaltender Clayton Jernigan, his second of the game, allowed the Cavs’ Robbie Kelso to give Virginia the lead with another power play goal. Virginia then added another goal late in the third, their fourth power play goal of the game, to earn a 5-3 advantage and put the game out of reach.

GAME NOTES
Virginia outshot Duke 36-35… All three of Duke’s losses this season have come on the road… Duke had 30 penalty minutes, while Virginia had 28.

In front of another large crowd, the Devils once again jumped in front early, this time on a power play goal from the point by Calvin Hui. Duke then went ahead 2-0 on another power play goal, this time with a 5 on 3 advantage. Ben Tyson was able to fire a one-timer from the left hash past UVA goalie Alex Pringle that was set up by a beautiful cross ice pass from Drew Evans. Virginia was able to score late in the first to cut the gap to 2-1 before heading to the intermission. Despite giving up the late goal, Duke head coach Brent Selman described the first as the best individual period he had seen from his squad the entire season.

Duke extended its lead to 3-1 early in the third on a goal by Jeff Lake. Lake sped down the left boards, and after freezing the UVA defensemen with a stop-and-go move, wired a wrist-shot over Pringle’s left shoulder. Duke then apparently scored again on a shot from the slot by Jesse Swanko, but the goal was disallowed after the referee ruled that Swanko had gained control of the puck by batting it down with a high stick. The Cavs then responded to cut the lead to 3-2 with a short-handed breakaway goal by Phil Giampietro. After Virginia also had a goal disallowed, this time for having the net off the moorings before the puck crossed the goal line, Duke headed to the second intermission with the 3-2 advantage.

Play went back and forth in the third with each team having chances on the power play. Duke goaltender Andrew Barbour was able to stand tall and turn away the furious Cavalier attack, while defensemen Calvin Hui, Ryan Eick, and Kevin Ford did an excellent job of clearing bodies from the crease. After Jeff Lake and Joe Crotty both had sure goals ring off the post late in the game, Steve Lake was able to notch an empty-netter in the waning seconds to seal the 4-2 victory.

GAME NOTES
Freshmen Andrew Barbour and Kevin Ford were Duke’s Mad Dog Players of the Game… Duke outshot Virginia 28 to 24… Duke had 14 penalty minutes, while Virginia had 22…The Blue Devils would like to once again thank Abbott Trailways for their excellent bus service and the Hampton Inn for their gracious accommodations… Duke will next take the ice on Friday, February 13th at home versus league rival NC State, who beat the Devils 7-6 in the previous meeting… Duke is in position to clinch at least second place in the ACCHL and a first round playoff bye with a victory over the Wolfpack.