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With this win, the team feels more confidence to continue this season after two consecutive losses last week.
The Cougars took advantage of the game on the first period by scoring three goals and tried to slow down the game for the Wildcats.
“We had a slow start but kept composure and battled the rest of the game,” said Head Coach Steve Soto. “The team showed a willingness to win at all costs and to never give up.”
Soto said that he felt the way the team played and responded against BYU was one of the best efforts that he has seen this season.
“That display of effort on Saturday night was the best I have seen all season,” Soto said. “I was so proud of the boys and can’t wait to see how we respond to our next two games.”
He said with only eleven skaters the team put out its best effort all season. WSU had almost forty shots on net and thirty of them came in the second and third period.
Chris Roberts said he was happy with the way the team responded, and the maturity they showed.
“This game was totally classless by BYU. From the start of the game, they were very angry and cheap,” Roberts said. “After the play would stop, they would throw punches, butt ends and do anything for basically ‘get at us.’ I am just very proud of us for coming through with the win after being down to a 3-0 lead after the first period.”
Soto also said BYU played dirty and tried to get under the team’s skin.
“I felt the other team was cheap and was doing all they could to intentionally injure our players,” Soto said. “Guys were getting butt ended by the other team’s sticks. One player was getting choked in the bottom of a pile up during one of the many altercations that took place.”
In that period, junior Josh Giudice had two goals to start the scoreboard for the Wildcats.
Later in the same period, three more players knocked goals in for WSU. Freshman Tommy Champi, sophomore Josh Meyer and Chris Roberts each had a single goal.
The Cougars scored their last goal five minutes before the second period ended.
In the third period, freshman Phil Jennerich scored two goals, and Champi had one more to finish the game.
“I am very proud of us for coming out with a win and staying disciplined because we did not lose anyone for our next game(s),” Roberts said. “I hope to see all of our fans at our final games of the season, which will be Feb. 10 and 11!“
