U.S. Naval Academy 4, Georgetown 3.

On Friday, October 23, 2009, at the state-of-the-art McMullen Hockey Arena in Annapolis, MD, the U. S. Naval Academy edged the Georgetown Hoyas 4-3. It was a hard-fought game that was not decided until time expired at the final horn.

The Midshipmen, accustomed to the Olympic rink, jumped out to a quick 2-0 lead in the first ten minutes of action. With 22 seconds remaining in the first period, and the Hoyas on a power play, Gus Thompson (Jr-New Canaan, CT) passed the puck to Charlie Walsh (Sr-Cheshire, CT) at the blue line. Charlie blasted his signature slap shot that the Navy goalie blocked but could not contain. Alex Yale-Loehr (Soph-Ithaca, NY) netted the rebound to cut the Navy lead to 2-1 going into the first intermission.

The second period was a tough one for the Hoyas. They were outshot 14 to 5 and Navy scored two goals to take control of the game with a 4-1 lead.

The third period, however, belonged to the Hoyas. Five minutes into the final frame, Pete Owen (Freshman-Westwood, MA) scored on a wrist shot from the lower left circle, assisted by Joe Horgan (Sr-Lansdale, PA) and Richie McGinniss (Soph- New Canaan, CT). At the midway point of the third period, Alex Yale-Loehr stole the puck in the offensive zone near the right-side boards, make a few moves toward the goal, and scored on a nice wrister to cut the Navy lead to 4-3.

For the remained of the game, the Hoyas put pressure on the Navy defense but could not capitalize. On a rush toward the Navy goal with 50 seconds remaining, Alex Yale-Loehr’s shot hit the right post and veered to the right corner. In the last 5 seconds of the game, the Hoyas won a face-off, but Charlie Walsh’s slap shot and the ensuing rebound could not get past the Naval Blockade.

As the final horn sounded, and with the Governor of Maryland in attendance, it was clear that the Hoyas had earned the respect of the Midshipmen, an ACHA Division I program in the Eastern States Collegiate Hockey League.