The Daily Campus

Issue date: 11/21/08 Section: Sports

Media Credit: Kevin McQuade Sophomore Andrew Olson leads in both goals and points this year.

If one game has characterized the men's hockey team's season thus far it was Sunday's 3-2 overtime loss at Canisus. The Huskies (2-8-0, 2-3-0 Atlantic Hockey), who had lost Saturday's game 6-0, jumped out to a 2-0 lead and were less than a period away from breaking a five game losing streak.

Two third period goals by the Griffs, however, put a damper on that hope and only 49 second into overtime, Canisus' Dave Kostuch's seventh goal of the season sent UConn home with their sixth straight loss.

The Huskies look to put an end to that streak this weekend with two home games against conference foe RIT (4-6-1, 3-2-1) Friday and Saturday nights at 7 at Freitas Ice Forum.

The Tigers are led on offense by Brennan Sarazin, who is first on the team with five goals. Feeding Sarazin the puck is sophomore defenseman Dan Ringwald. Ringwald already has 10 assists on the young season and leads the team in points with 11.

Not only is Ringwald an offensive asset but on the RIT web site coach Wayne Wilson had nothing but praise for the sophomore.

"Dan is one of the more intelligent defensemen I've coached in a long time. The fact that he was one of the power play quarterbacks showed off his skills," Wayne said.

The RIT offense could pose a problem for a UConn team that is having trouble finding the back of the net. The Tigers have scored at least four goals four times this year, including six in a 6-3 win over Army last weekend.

Compare this to the Huskies offense which has only scored six goals over their last six games and has been shut-out three times.

Many of UConn's recent losses have been by close margins.

Aside from the 3-2 loss at Canisus, the Huskies have also lost 2-1 to Yale, 1-0 to Bentley and 3-2 to Union. According to coach Bruce Marshall, the difference between a win and a loss in those games can be summed up in one word.

"Execution. We have not been executing," Marshall said. "On Sunday against Canisus we started out good but we had chances to make the game 3-0 or 4-0 and we didn't capitalize on power plays. We've got to start taking control of our games."

That's not to say he Huskies have not had their share of blowout losses. Including Saturday's 6-0 loss to Canisus they have given up four or more goals four times already this season.

Marshall knows that won't be easy against a good RIT team, and his team is going to have to play well to avoid their seventh straight loss. Last year, the Huskies were 1-0-1 against the Tigers, including a 40-save performance by Junior Beau Erickson in a 3-0 win.

"They're going to be a skilled team," Marshall said. "They're coming off a good win against Army and they've got some points in the league. We can't let them coming in here and dictate play."

Despite their inconsistent play, the Huskies sophomore standout Andrew Olson has been a bright spot in an otherwise unpleasant season. Olson leads the team in goals, with six and points, with eight.

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