GPCIHL Regionals Weekend

[JLambertUMSL]

- The perfect scenario happened for UMSL B this morning. UMSL beat Truman State 12-2, then watched as Lindenwood Black came back from a 2-0 deficit and beat Mizzou 4-3, giving UMSL the second seed.

- Drew Vandas scored while being tripped on a breakaway to give Truman State a huge 2-1 win over Wash U.

- Lindenwood demolished UMSL. It was 11-2. It felt like 33-2. It was UMSL's biggest margin of defeat since probably '01-02. For an UMSL team that has kept Lindenwood within 2, 5, 2, and 4 goals over the past three seasons to get blown away like that shows what Lindenwood is capable of when they really want to beat someone. UMSL had no answer. That's about all I can say.

- Missouri State beat SLU 3-2 to complete the unbeaten (14-0-3) regular season.

[train]

here are the matchups for the d2 playoffs:

mo state (1) vs kansas state (8)
truman state (2) vs semo (7)
slu (3) vs western illinois (6)
wash u (4) vs southern illinois (5)

the semi final game with slu and truman should be an interesting one.

[MBurke]

http://www.greatplainshockey.com/schedule.php?event_id=757

Is that final DI game right? If so that's a pretty major swing from the previous meeting.....

[csdahlberg]

Yes, that was the final game. I've already gotten 3 phone calls about it, and I wish I would've stayed to watch it. I would like to congratulate UMSL, but I won't because Clarke scored on me. :D

[Mtour71]

jesus... the apocalypse must be upon us. they lost a game. they will still win nationals.

[osu_buckeyes]

Wow, nice job UMSL! Looks like Cash stood on his head to get the win.

[ISFN]

if by apocalypse you mean an end to their winning streak then yes, its OVER.

Congrats UMSL, wish I could of been there to witness it for my self.

[boring]

there first loss in 3 years...still pretty impressive, but it had to end sometime

[JLambertUMSL]

I'm having a hard time coming up with the right words.

Many have tried, many have given LU their best shot, but few have even come close. Hate all you want, that's just the truth.

Cash dug way deep.

If I mention one skater I have to mention them all, starting with Adam Clarke, PJ Tallo, Andy Meade, and Blake Propp.

This is the team that laced 'em up and did it tonight -- and won a trophy for it, too.

James Cash
Adam Clarke
Jason Holzum
Ben Lambert
Andy Meade
Blake Propp
Aaron Schulz
Jeremy Scott
Jason Shields
PJ Tallo
Eric Thompson
Coach Pops Marchand



("It had to end sometime"....yeah. But not in March when they've got their full roster and are playing in front of everyone in a regional championship game.)

[train]

i wish i would have stayed for the game. from what i have heard, lindenwood couldn't score on cash to save their lives.

the d2 final between truman state and missouri state was an excellent game as well. the score was 0-0 through 2. truman state scored on a power play in the third. missouri state scored with less than a minute left in the game and their goalie pulled. the game goes to overtime and eventually missouri state put one in. the final score was 2-1. the goalies on both teams played amazing. nationals will be a fun time.

[hockeydude92]

I'm having a hard time coming up with the right words.

Many have tried, many have given LU their best shot, but few have even come close. Hate all you want, that's just the truth.

Cash dug way deep.

If I mention one skater I have to mention them all, starting with Adam Clarke, PJ Tallo, Andy Meade, and Blake Propp.

This is the team that laced 'em up and did it tonight -- and won a trophy for it, too.

James Cash
Adam Clarke
Jason Holzum
Ben Lambert
Andy Meade
Blake Propp
Aaron Schulz
Jeremy Scott
Jason Shields
PJ Tallo
Eric Thompson
Coach Pops Marchand



("It had to end sometime"....yeah. But not in March when they've got their full roster and are playing in front of everyone in a regional championship game.)

this team is History in the making
this will be one to remember
http://www.lindenwood.edu/athletics/roller_hockey/Default.asp?id=1237

[CRadigan]

I wish I had stayed for the DI final. Congrats to UMSL.

The DII final was one of the best games I have seen, though it gave me flashbacks of our(Truman) loss to UCSD last year at nationals (same rink, same last minute tie, same OT deflection in the same corner of the same net...brutal). Pecher's save with about :10 left was probably the best save I have seen in recent years. Too bad it was all for naught. Look out for both of those teams at nationals.

On a more serious note, how is Purk from UMSL doing? He got knocked cold in the Mizzou game and was taken off in a stretcher. Anyone have some good news?

[csdahlberg]

On a more serious note, how is Purk from UMSL doing? He got knocked cold in the Mizzou game and was taken off in a stretcher. Anyone have some good news?

McFarland told me he visited him in the hospital. He was alert and talking to everyone. Sounds like a bad concussion, thankfully nothing worse.

[catch]

first congrats to umsl what an amazing weekend and turn around. after being destroyed by Lindenwood Saturday that is an unbelievable come back a day later. Very glad to see that Purk is o.k. As to MSU and Truman that was an incredible game. I was glad to see Truman turn it around and knock down SLU who stacked there team at the end of the year. MSU and Truman tied 5-5 and 2-2 this year. MSU then wins the championship by tying the game 1-1 with 28 seconds left and winning in sudden death. MSU may be ranked higher, but these teams are equal and Truman is every bit as good as we are.

[JLambertUMSL]

Truman State is every bit as good as Missouri State. There should be no doubt that they make it to Nationals.

Once I get all my video stuff sorted out, I'll put up some video of the DII final as well as that other game that was played right after. It takes me a long time because I'm busy, disorganized, and have horrible ADD.

Cash was phenomenal, and I don't know if there's much else he can do to prove he's the best goaltender in roller hockey, but it was more than just Cash.

PJ Tallo was the best player on the floor. He was the biggest difference. He's 18 fricking years old, and has a huge target on his back every time he steps on the rink against anyone from Lindenwood....and last night, he lived up to everything anyone has ever said about him. He's a transcendent player.

Aaron Schulz is an unsung hero -- in the clutch, he always comes up huge. Quickly becoming one of my very favorite players.

Adam Clarke is the perfect captain for this team.

Andy Meade and Blake Propp get it done in every way. There's nothing these guys aren't good at. They can snipe, pass, block shots, play physical, everything. They both stepped up as vocal leaders this weekend, and this wouldn't have happened without that.

Jason Holzum, Ben Lambert, Jeremy Scott, Jason Shields, Eric Thompson -- each of them made at least one impact play without which UMSL would not have won.

Thompson does a LOT of things that people don't always remember later, like stuffing a wraparound attempt in the first period that would have given Lindenwood a 2-1 lead. I think he has two or three goals all season, maybe seven or eight points....I don't think there's a player I know whose statistics fall so far short of his true value.

Without Mr. Ames in goal, we'd have been scrambling against Mizzou in the semifinal. He stopped a 2-on-0 in the second period, among several huge saves. We came out flat in that game, were a little bit down after Doug Purk got knocked out, and Tomy kept the pressure from rising.

Anyway, just a few quick random thoughts...I'll be back with more objective facts later, I'm sure.

[That Guy]

Do u even play hockey??? and i do beleive pj had 1 goal?? lol

[That Guy]

o and 11-2? where was pj the savior then? 1 out of 14 games....enough said

[WhoKnows]

Jason Holzum, Ben Lambert, Jeremy Scott, Jason Shields, Eric Thompson -- each of them made at least one impact play without which UMSL would not have won.




From what I saw at the game, with the exception of Eric Thompson, these "impact plays" seemed to being playing one shift so the 5 regulars could rest a shift. :D

[William Bourque]

From what I saw at the game, with the exception of Eric Thompson, these "impact plays" seemed to being playing one shift so the 5 regulars could rest a shift. :D

So 5 guys and a good goalie beat Lindenwood. Wonder what is going to happen when they run into some deep teams at nationals

[JLambertUMSL]

From what I saw at the game, with the exception of Eric Thompson, these "impact plays" seemed to being playing one shift so the 5 regulars could rest a shift. :D

Obviously you didn't see much, since we rolled three forward lines for the first two periods.

[Ben Lambert]

1 out of 14 games?? What 14 games? We played Lindenwood 4 times this season. Including a game where we were up 2-0.

In the 11-2 game we were running around not playing defense. We changed our strategy and LU couldn't handle it.

UMSL are the Great Plains Champions. Enough said. If it's a fluke, Lindenwood choked in the most important game of the season so far.

Really easy to talk trash behind an anonymous name on a web board. This is funny to me.

[Ben Lambert]

Oh and pj had 2 goals and 2 assists. FYI

[hockeydude92]

1 out of 14 games?? What 14 games? We played Lindenwood 4 times this season. Including a game where we were up 2-0.

In the 11-2 game we were running around not playing defense. We changed our strategy and LU couldn't handle it.

UMSL are the Great Plains Champions. Enough said. If it's a fluke, way to Lindenwood choked in the most important game of the season so far.

Really easy to talk trash behind an anonymous name on a web board. This is funny to me.

im not going to doubt your great defeat, but are you guys ready to take on teams in like MSU,Florida, Irvine, N.texas, colorado. those you might stroll through but like Bourque said will you be able to handle "deep teams". And only the region comes into mind are Commisioner Kevin Murphy's East Beasts; Buffalo,Towson, Rhode Island,Rutgers,and Stony Brook. But that is the least of worries. Will you be able to do it again against Lindenwood?

[umsl_player_38]

okay okay we beat lindenwood.. it has happen before im not taking away anything trust me i was one of the happiest kids alive but what does this mean.. NOTHING.. it was one game the only thing this shows is that they can be beat that is all.. we as a team know this as well.. we are going after one thing and one thing only the national title.. that will prove everything.. lindenwood is a great team and everyone knows they still are going to be the team to beat no doubt about it..

one more thing "That Guy" if your going to run your mouth about some one be a man and put your name. haha.

UMSL HOCKEY PJ Tallo

[Dave Garland]

I love you PJ!

..and congrats to UMSL on a great performance. Wish I could have seen it!

[JLambertUMSL]

im not going to doubt your great defeat, but are you guys ready to take on teams in like MSU,Florida, Irvine, N.texas, colorado. those you might stroll through but like Bourque said will you be able to handle "deep teams".

We are a deep team...six forwards, five defensemen, plus another solid skater(Cory Purk) if our B team doesn't get a bid*.

(But can any of them cover Charlie Middleton? I can't wait to see this guy.)


And only the region comes into mind are Commisioner Kevin Murphy's East Beasts; Buffalo,Towson, Rhode Island,Rutgers,and Stony Brook. But that is the least of worries. Will you be able to do it again against Lindenwood?

Stony Brook beat us soundly at Nationals last year. We have nothing but respect for the ECRHA teams.


[* - a note on our B team: we were 10-1-1 in the second semester, ended Lindenwood Gold's 25-game unbeaten streak, were the only team other than Lindenwood Gold to beat Lindenwood Black, beat a good Division II team in January, and finished alone in second place in GPCIHL B in the regular season. Hopefully we've earned a Nationals bid. Our players deserve it. I have never seen such across-the-board, no-excuses commitment from a roller hockey team.]

[Ben Lambert]

im not going to doubt your great defeat, but are you guys ready to take on teams in like MSU,Florida, Irvine, N.texas, colorado. those you might stroll through but like Bourque said will you be able to handle "deep teams". And only the region comes into mind are Commisioner Kevin Murphy's East Beasts; Buffalo,Towson, Rhode Island,Rutgers,and Stony Brook. But that is the least of worries. Will you be able to do it again against Lindenwood?

Only time will tell I suppose.

At least now everyone can quit bitching about lindenwood playing on a different level than everyone and realize that they are, in fact, beatable.

In my opinion, Lindenwood is deeper than any east coast team. I promise you that. To think otherwise would be silly. They can hand pick their team from anybody. Name one east coast team that can do what they do. They are the deepest. Pick one of their top 8 players and put him on an east coast team and I can only imagine the hype. It would be the second coming.:rolleyes:

[catch]

Haile Selassie was the second coming and he did not wear roller skates, nor would he play on Lindenwood in the first instance. I scorn the non believers.
Might I make a suggestion. Rather than have a war of words here as to who is better you may either settle it in the rink in Colorado Springs and shall we say pistols at dawn.

[alex]

Can they beat "deep teams"......they just beat Lindenwood. Is there a team deeper than that? If so, I haven't heard about them yet.

[ISFN]

Perfectly said/typed..

Side Note

Goodluck to all Great Plains teams at Nationals, way to go Mizzou on getting a Bid!

[William Bourque]

My comment was in defense of UMSL. FYI. It was meant to be sarcastic that in the way UMSL has five players and is not that deep.

[Ben Lambert]

I gotcha on that one Bourque.

[William Bourque]

I gotcha on that one Bourque.

Good, to doubt your team is just plain dumb after what you have done.

[Mtour71]

One game... Oh well. So regardless of all of this... If you have to put a $10000 bet on Lindenwood or UMSL to win it all, who are you going to pick? My point exactly. Im not taking anything away from UMSL, thats a big win. But a box-trap won't work every time, as the previous meetings have shown. LU had a cold goalie, UMSL had a GREAT goalie. The box worked, UMSL got a soft goal here and there, the pieces all fell into place. Anyway you cut it, Lindenwood is the better team, but the best team doesn't always win. This was nothing more than a wake up call for LU. Im sure they'll be skating out one by one to receive their GOLD medals at the Tour Arena... just like every other year...

[Ben Lambert]

I just wrote a long post answering this BS. It wasn't worth it. Erasing it and ending this now is better for everyone.

[ianmackie]

hey, wait a minute...that was my response last weekend to a different email to a different lambert last week...i cry plagiarism...lol. great game yesterday.

ian

[jscotto]

Ben/James,

Forget what all these people are saying...bottom line you won! It is an amazing accomplishment especially considering this was your first season playing against the most accomplished and storied team in the history of inline hockey. You all should be very proud of your achievement. We all believed, here at Neumann College, that once UMSL and Stony Brook moved to D1 that Lindenwood would have their hands full. Consensus was that if any team had a chance to defeat them it would be one of you two guys. I am sure it was a great game and I wish I could have been there to see it. I am sure that this is not the end of Lindenwood as they will come back with a vengeance, just as I am sure that this will become one of the most fierce rivalries in College Hockey...sort of along the lines of say Red Sox-Yankees. Best of luck to you and your team at Nationals, and all the Great Plains teams that will be there, we look forward to playing them.
Once again, on behalf of the entire Neumann Knights Team and Staff congratulations on a spectacular season, and amazing, and inspiring Regional Championship victory.

John Scotto
Head Coach
Neumann College Knights

[Ben Lambert]

hey, wait a minute...that was my response last weekend to a different email to a different lambert last week...i cry plagiarism...lol. great game yesterday.

ian


Thought you might notice that Ian. ha ha I will pay you royalties.

Thanks!

Also thanks to John Scotto. Class Act!

[JLambertUMSL]

hey, wait a minute...that was my response last weekend to a different email to a different lambert last week...i cry plagiarism...lol. great game yesterday.

ian

LMFAO. :D

[JLambertUMSL]

One game... Oh well. So regardless of all of this... If you have to put a $10000 bet on Lindenwood or UMSL to win it all, who are you going to pick? My point exactly. Im not taking anything away from UMSL, thats a big win. But a box-trap won't work every time, as the previous meetings have shown. LU had a cold goalie, UMSL had a GREAT goalie. The box worked, UMSL got a soft goal here and there, the pieces all fell into place. Anyway you cut it, Lindenwood is the better team, but the best team doesn't always win. This was nothing more than a wake up call for LU. Im sure they'll be skating out one by one to receive their GOLD medals at the Tour Arena... just like every other year...

It wasn't a "box-trap." We've never used it before, either, so there goes your theory about "previous meetings" too.

[Mtour71]

okay......

[alex]

(But can any of them cover Charlie Middleton? I can't wait to see this guy.)



89 goals in 22 games this year...I think it's safe to say nobody in the west was able to, haha. We'll see about nationals.

[William Bourque]

89 goals in 22 games this year...I think it's safe to say nobody in the west was able to, haha. We'll see about nationals.

Should be one of the best stories of the tournament.