Georgetown 3, St. Joseph's University 2.

On Friday, January 22, 2010, before a large and enthusiastic crowd of "Hoya Saxa" chanting fans at the Kettler Capitals Iceplex in Arlington, VA, the Georgetown Hoya Hockey Team defeated the Hawks of St. Joseph's University, 3-2. It was an excellent game against a talented and hard-hitting St. Joe's team. Both teams fought hard on each shift for the entire 60 minutes. Each loose puck was fiercely contested. Many shots were blocked. There were 20 penalties in the game; 18 minor and 2 major. Both majors were against St. Joes--for charging into the Hoyas' goaltender, and for unsportsmanlike conduct.

St. Joe's took a 1-0 lead midway through the first period on a penalty shot. With 5 minutes remaining in the first period, the Hoyas tied the score when, shorthanded, the amazing Alex Yale-Loehr (Soph--Ithaca, NY) intercepted a St. Joe's outlet pass at the blue line, skated hard toward the goal, and scored on a beautiful, backhanded shot that left the St. Joe's goaltender sprawling on the ice. One minute later, the Hawks answered by scoring at even strength to take a 2-1 lead heading into the first intermission.

In the second period, the Hoyas took full advantage of a 5-minute major penalty against St. Joe's for charging into the Hoyas' goaltender. One minute into the penalty, Alex Yale-Loehr scored his second goal of the game on a quick wrist shot from the lower right circle, assisted by Brian Brauth (Grad--Hoboken, NJ) and Dan Lechner (Sr--Rockville, MD). Three minutes later, and still on the power play, Charlie Walsh (Sr--Cheshire, CT) scored what turned out to be the game winner on a long wrist shot from the point, assisted by Alex Yale-Loehr and Dan Lechner.

During the remainder of the second period and throughout the third, the Hawks and the Hoyas battled hard but neither could penetrate the goal. The Hoyas' goaltender, Greg Graham, was outstanding, stopping 2 breakaways (and 20 other shots) that could have been the difference in the game. Others who make significant contributions on the defensive end were defensemen Charlie Walsh, Gus Thompson (Jr--New Canaan, CT), Charlie Beller (Jr--Chappaqua, NY), and Richie McGinniss (Soph-New Canaan, CT), with strong backchecking from Georgetown forwards Lukas Autenried (Soph-Wallisellen, Switzerland), Pete Owen (Freshman-Westwood, MA), Lou Aronne (Sr--Greenwich, CT), Brad Cadigan (Freshman--Weymouth, MA), Joe Horgan (Sr-Lansdale, PA), and Andrew Foley (Sr--New York, NY).