Spring Break
Ochoa shines despite setbacks
Kevin Vellturo
Issue date: 2/16/09 Section: Sports
Chris Ochoa was not going to let the UConn men's hockey team lose its fifth consecutive weekend series without a fight.
In Friday night's 6-3 loss to Mercyhurst, Ochoa held the Huskies in the game down the stretch - scoring two third period goals to bring UConn to within one goal each time. Two late Laker goals, including an empty netter, doused any hope of a comeback.
Ochoa came out with the same energy the next night, scoring less than one minute in to the game. This marked the first time the Huskies scored the first goal of the game since Jan. 30 against Holy Cross when they jumped out to a 3-0 lead only to lose 5-3. Ochoa was not done, adding a goal in the second period to bring the Huskies to within one at 3-2.
Despite Ochoa's efforts the Lakers would add four more and go on to win 7-4 to complete the sweep and hand the Huskies their eighth loss in nine games and their 24th overall.
The last series the Huskies split was in November against RIT and the only series sweep for the Huskies was in October when they took two from Army.
The season has turned out to be one devastating loss after another, but coach Bruce Marshall mentioned how he has always been able to count on Ochoa this season.
"He has been very consistent all year and has definitely been a bright spot for us," Marshall said.
Although praising Ochoa's effort all year, he made sure to emphasize the fact that it takes more than just one player to make a difference.
"He's been playing great but you got to have all 20 guys playing well to get things done," Marshall said. "Tonight the emotion just wasn't there."
Although Ochoa had a strong sophomore campaign last year - scoring 23 points on 10 goals and 13 assists - the junior has almost eclipsed that mark with five games left to play this year with 14 goals and seven assists for 21 points. Ochoa's numbers are tops on the Huskies and have him ranked 35th out of all scorers in Atlantic Hockey.
According to Marshall, the increase in production is not surprising.
"He's been shooting the puck a lot more often and a lot harder," Marshall said. "He's really been ripping it and he's started getting more scoring opportunities.
Ochoa attributes his standout weekend to the fact that he felt the need to light a spark under his team.
"I felt like I had to make a move and give an extra effort," Ochoa said. "Not like I don't try hard all the time but we need to get on a roll before the playoffs and maybe we can get some momentum."
Ochoa also echoed what Marshall has been saying all year about why the wins have not been coming.
"We need to finish games," Ochoa said. "They're all close games in the second period and then they end up pulling away in the third. We need to play the whole game."
In Friday night's 6-3 loss to Mercyhurst, Ochoa held the Huskies in the game down the stretch - scoring two third period goals to bring UConn to within one goal each time. Two late Laker goals, including an empty netter, doused any hope of a comeback.
Ochoa came out with the same energy the next night, scoring less than one minute in to the game. This marked the first time the Huskies scored the first goal of the game since Jan. 30 against Holy Cross when they jumped out to a 3-0 lead only to lose 5-3. Ochoa was not done, adding a goal in the second period to bring the Huskies to within one at 3-2.
Despite Ochoa's efforts the Lakers would add four more and go on to win 7-4 to complete the sweep and hand the Huskies their eighth loss in nine games and their 24th overall.
The last series the Huskies split was in November against RIT and the only series sweep for the Huskies was in October when they took two from Army.
The season has turned out to be one devastating loss after another, but coach Bruce Marshall mentioned how he has always been able to count on Ochoa this season.
"He has been very consistent all year and has definitely been a bright spot for us," Marshall said.
Although praising Ochoa's effort all year, he made sure to emphasize the fact that it takes more than just one player to make a difference.
"He's been playing great but you got to have all 20 guys playing well to get things done," Marshall said. "Tonight the emotion just wasn't there."
Although Ochoa had a strong sophomore campaign last year - scoring 23 points on 10 goals and 13 assists - the junior has almost eclipsed that mark with five games left to play this year with 14 goals and seven assists for 21 points. Ochoa's numbers are tops on the Huskies and have him ranked 35th out of all scorers in Atlantic Hockey.
According to Marshall, the increase in production is not surprising.
"He's been shooting the puck a lot more often and a lot harder," Marshall said. "He's really been ripping it and he's started getting more scoring opportunities.
Ochoa attributes his standout weekend to the fact that he felt the need to light a spark under his team.
"I felt like I had to make a move and give an extra effort," Ochoa said. "Not like I don't try hard all the time but we need to get on a roll before the playoffs and maybe we can get some momentum."
Ochoa also echoed what Marshall has been saying all year about why the wins have not been coming.
"We need to finish games," Ochoa said. "They're all close games in the second period and then they end up pulling away in the third. We need to play the whole game."
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