The Hawkeyes continued their undefeated UCBLL season with an 11-4 win over the Rapids Monday night.
The game’s start was delayed due to the weather, and warmups were shortened, making for a close throughout the first half, but the Hawkeyes offense found their rhythm late in the third, and there was no stopping them from there.
“We’re used to getting there about 45 minutes before and having a full light warmup and second warmup,” Hawkeyes head coach Dan Coates said. “Because the first game was delayed by the weather, we had 15 minutes to basically get stretched and get out there and play. I’m sure it was a little tough, but at the end of the day, the other team had to do that too, so you can’t use it as an excuse for a slow start.”
Thomas Gravino tallied five goals and one assist to lead the Hawkeyes. It was his fourth game of the year with at least five points. Zach Terry followed him with a five-point night and a hat trick. Nate Senez and Matthew Blythe kept the ball on a string down low, they combined for six assists. Taylor Jungermann made the start in net with 20 saves and was named the Player of the Game.
The Rapids were led by Vincent Fiorella, who had three power-play assists, and Liam Keane, who had two goals and one assist. Gage Stevens kept the game close through the first 40 minutes with 46 saves.
“We had tons of quality looks in that first half, like breakaways and (chances on the doorsteps), but their goalie Gage Stevens played exceptional the whole game,” Coates said.
The first half was much closer than the end score made it out to be. Through the first quarter the Hawkeyes offense struggled to put their shots on goal and the Rapids kept finding just enough to stay in it.
Ashton Burian put the Hawkeyes on the board first in transition, but the Rapids got an answer almost immediately from Brady Kustra and some impressive passing to get the ball inside. As the first half went on the Hawkeyes offense still struggled to find the net but when they got on the power play, they couldn’t be denied.
Gravino buried the Hawkeyes second goal from the point on the power play to end the first quarter. Terry scored off a skip pass from Senez in the middle of the second with the man advantage and the Hawkeyes led 3-1 despite no goals from their offense at even strength.
The Rapids brought it within one before the half though. Fiorella found Keane for the first time on the power play with four minutes to go in the quarter. As the third quarter started it appeared like it would be similar to the first half, but the Hawkeyes offense found their rhythm as time went on.
“At halftime, we just went in there and said, ‘Boys, let’s have some fun here, don’t worry about it, like I know we’re kind of a high-scoring team, but let’s just have some fun and see what happens in the second half,’” Coates said. “It was kind of cool just watching the tape today to see – ok, now we’re getting to our groove in the second half.”
Ian Kane doubled the Hawkeyes lead on a breakaway four minutes into the half but after that the Rapids got the air they needed. The Rapids scored back-to-back power=play goals to tie the game.
“Once I feel like we got all our, not nerves, but got all our bad bugs out we were fine,” Terry said. “Once we got kind of warmed up, we were fine, definitely helped out playing a little bit and getting used to the wetness of the ball and everything.”
The floodgates opened after the last Rapids goal of the game, and the Hawkeyes offense started to find better shots and bury them. Gravino drove through the middle twice in the third quarter and buried close shots while Terry worked his way down low off ball for his goal on the crease.
In the fourth, it was all Hawkeyes, completing a seven-goal run to close out the game. Things were close to the start, but ultimately, the Hawkeyes found their stride to stay undefeated. The close game could be a blessing in disguise for a team still trying to get over the hump in the national tournament.
“I think it helped us grow as a team and not panic when things aren’t going our way,” Terry said. “It teaches us patience and trust the process and we’ll get it done.”
Now the Hawkeyes turn to the Buffaloes for their final regular season matchup, and it could prove to be the closest game of the year.
“I think it’s going be a playoff-type atmosphere for both teams,” Coates said. “Their one loss came from us at the beginning of the year, and that’s a long time ago. We’re two completely different teams, and I know they’re well-coached, and they’ll be prepared, but as far as our guys, we’re just focused on ourselves.”
The Hawkeyes have been able to dominate the league this season. They’ve outscored opponents 82-34 through six games. That success has come from the coaches’ strong mindset of keeping focus on what they can do better. Now, against the Buffaloes, they are treating it as a challenge just like any other.
“They’re a good team, and you can’t take anyone lightly; we’re definitely going to have to send all the dogs out and just see what happens,” Terry said. “We’re just going to have to play as a team and trust each other and trust the process and our coaches and we’ll be alright. I definitely think it’s going to feel like a playoff game, and that’s how we are treating everything.”
The Hawkeyes and Buffaloes faceoff at 6:00 p.m. on Thursday, July 25. As for the Rapids, they will face the Armory at 8:00 p.m.