Feb. 22, 2005
The Endicott College Gulls made history this past Saturday (Feb. 20), nailing down the ice hockey program's first play-off win (in three years) with a convincing 5-1 decision over the Coast Guard Academy in New London, Connecticut.
Led by senior Kenny Dargon's three goals an a solid all-around defensive effort, the Gulls avoided any letdown following the 13-3 season-ending drubbing of Daniel Webster College the night before. However, the afternoon game got off to an auspicious start. CGA's Victor Galgano stifled several superb early scoring opportunities, including a tremendous one-timer by EC's Chris Garofalo at the halfway point of the opening period, and the Bears got on the scoreboard first with a power play tally. With 14 minutes gone and the Gulls playing a man short, Brian Kurdle took advantage of a missed defensive assignment and buried a short pass from linemate John Ferreira behind EC netminder Jeff Pardue. Gabe Carriero got the second assist. Less than a minute later, the Gulls answered. Unfazed by hitting the left post earlier in the period, Dargon collected a slick feed from Garofalo, pulled the puck wide and slipped it past Galgano to knot the game at 1-1. Linemate Mark Vaughan was credited with the second assist.
The second period started much like the first, with both teams battling hard and even, and Galgano and Pardue making several solid saves. Just before the 10-minute mark, EC freshman Mike Ripley took advantage of a seam in the Bears defense, drove hard over the blueline, and unleashed a blistering shot that Galgano stopped but couldn't control. Senior Jay Fall took a whack at the puck, but it squirted free to the left side of the crease, where sophomore forward Tim Murphy tapped it home for the eventual game-winner. A minute later, Dargon gave the Gulls an insurance marker when he ripped a one-timer high over Galgano's blocker and into the back of the net. Garofalo, who won the face-off and drew the puck back to Dargon, got the assist. Pardue preserved the two-goal margin with a big blocker save during a CGA power play, and with less than 90 seconds left in the middle period, Dargon got his hat trick. Freshman Mike Feeheley made a huge play collecting the puck in his own end before hitting a streaking Dargon on the left boards with a perfect, cross-ice tape-to-tape pass. Dargon picked up the puck, raced down his off-wing, and fired a wrister that found a sliver of daylight between Galgano's pads and gave the Gulls a commanding 4-1 lead.
Pardue made the 3-goal lead stand up with several terrific blocker saves in the third period, as the Bears came storming back. Every one of Endicott's defensemen and forwards played a tough, physical game, limiting the Coast Guard's options and taking away any open ice. After a big defensive stop by senior Derek Gagnon, the assistant captain headmanned the puck to senior Joe Dudek, who broke in alone on Galgano with 2½ minutes left and snuck a backhander under the valiant Bears netminder. Pardue wrapped up a stellar game by robbing the Bears one last time with 46 seconds left, finishing with 30 saves on the evening. And the Gulls boarded the bus with a well-deserved play-off win.
The Gulls next play-off match will be the New England College Hockey Association's semifinals on Saturday, Feb. 27, at the Conway Arena in Nashua, NH. The opponent and exact time will be determined by the results of Tuesday's NECHA play-off action.
