Union 3-RPI 2: Who Needs Nail Clippers?

Greg Coburn, Natural Born Killer.

It's sometimes easy to forget that Rick Bennett, well, was this Rick Bennett. Despite the facial cues that are a reminder of his days as a hockey player, you'd be hard pressed to label him as a traditional coach. He is soft spoken and the owner of a demeanor that is nothing if not reassuring.

Not on Friday night.

On the heels of Union's nailbiting win over rival RPI in game one of the ECAC quarterfinals, Bennett entered the Garnet Room in the bowels of Messa Rink. He strode in with a purpose.

Although Union's consistently level-headed coach praised his team's quick rebound following an RPI goal only 42 seconds into regulation, he told the gaggle of reporters:


“That was a team that looked very rusty. That looked like a team that was still at the library...We calmed down a little bit, and played pretty good hockey. But we just didn’t bring it fully.”


But just as quickly, Bennett regained his trademark composure. He heaped praise on RPI's effort--Head Coach Seth Appert said that his team needed to win more puck battles to beat the Dutchmen--while critiquing his own squad. Union was a team--not unlike RPI--that appeared to have firecrackers attached to their skates. As a physical game progressed, Union appeared to be a tad too excited. Bennett attributed the overzealousness that led to uncharacteristic penalties to the bye week. The Dutchmen had to temper their game, and quickly settled in. 


But not to be outdone, RPI came out flying in the second period. Evidently energized after a very controversial Greg Coburn goal, the Engineers showed why the discrepancy between #1 and #10 in the ECAC playoff seeding can be marginalized within seconds. Although just falling short, the nailbiter at Messa on Friday proved not only that the Engineers can --and should be-- a legitimate playoff threat, but that the schizophrenia of the ECAC playoffs may already be in full swing.


So prepare for more warring chants, more dueling pep-bands, and at least one more game of some of the most exciting hockey you'll see all year. Let's hope that Messa Rink can withstand the palpable (and sometimes frightening) energy that quite literally rattled its floorboards last night.

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• Union Athletics' recap