October 14, 2006

The Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets (6 – 0) continued their four week road trip with a thrilling victory over the University of South Florida (USF) Bulls in Tampa, Florida.

The game saw over 35 penalties with both sides giving up two goal leads. But, in the end, Tech prevailed with the tie breaker being scored with just two minutes left in the game.

Goaltending and defensive play by the Yellow Jackets certainly had its ups and downs throughout the game. After fighting off three 5 on 3 penalty kills in the first period, and seeing fabulous saves by GT goalie, Nick Rice, the Jackets gave up three short-handed goals in the second and early third periods due to defensive lapses.

Although outshot 17 to 9 in the first period, due to penalty kills, Tech got two quick goals in the last 3 minutes of the period to take a 2 to 0 lead.

The first goal was an even-strength give and go from Dan Sweeney (assist) to captain Mike Zaucha (goal). The second goal came 2 minujtes later on a power play rebound from Brian O’Connor with an assist to B.J. Stapleton.

USF came out quickly in the second period scoring within the first minute when GT goalie, Rice, misplayed the puck and was out of position for an easy score.

Scoring in the second period remained quiet until the last five minutes when Christian Gattung scored a power play goal with the assist to Zaucha.

The Bulls scored two quick goals in the last 2 minutes, the first a shorthanded odd man rush. The second came with just seven seconds left with USF scoring a break-away off of a Tech turnover. That tied the score at 3 to 3 at the end of the second period.

The third period saw a continuation of the USF scoring barrage as they scored a “pretty” wrap around goal in the first minute to take a 4 to 3 lead.

The Bulls scored their fourth unanswered goal with 11 minutes left in the game on another short-handed one-on-one scoring drive.

Looking at a deficit of two goals, Tech came storming back. With nine minutes left, O’Connor scored his second goal of the game on a power-play rush to the net.

The teams finally had an opportunity to play 5 on 5 hockey with 4 minutes left. Zaucha ( 2nd goal of game) fired a shot from the top of the circle to tie the score with an assist for Tom Porter.

Brendan O’Leary got the game winning goal with 2 minutes to go on a sniper shot from the right side that went over the shoulder of the USF goalie (assist to Zaucha.)

GA Tech was outshot in the game 33 to 30.

The second game against the USF Bulls was cancelled due to loss of the ice time.

The comeback was significant in light of the absence of head coach Greg Stathis and showed that this team has the character to prevail in adverse situations.

Tech is now 6 and 0 on the season – all have been road victories. The seven game road trip concludes next Friday night, October 20th against Clemson in Greenville, SC.