ENNalty Box

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This week's events: HOMECOMING WEEKEND Friday, November 2, 5:15 pm Class of 1923 Ice Rink  vs. Millersville University Saturday, November 3, 5:15 pm Class of 1923 Ice Rink vs. Siena College

News and Notes:     PENN welcomes all alumni and friends back to The Class of 1923 Rink this weekend for Homecoming. Assistant Captain Colby Zaph led the Quakers to victory in their first MACHA league game with 2 goals.

Most individuals can easily identify turning points in their lives. Those moments, no matter how brief or lengthy, when thoughts and moods radically shift in response to an event or a relationship or an effort can become life-defining – setting the tone for all that is to transpire in the future. On an admittedly less philosophical and dire scale, the Penn Quakers men’s ice hockey team experienced their own collective turning point on Friday evening, October 26th, by earning their first victory in five games versus William Patterson University (WPU). Period One began with a strong rush by Penn, a physical statement of their desire to win. Within the first six minutes of play, the Quakers scored two goals: the first one unassisted by defenseman Colby Zaph and the next by forward Jeff Goldberg with assists from Will Deng and Michael Southworth. They also maintained possession of the puck for the majority of that time frame. In response to this level of opposition, WPU chalked up their first goal of the evening. The Quakers managed to dampen WPU’s spirits rather quickly, though, with two more rapid-succession goals: one by forward Aaron Wasserman with assists from Daniel Remick and Michael Sand (both forwards) and another by Colby Zaph – his second thus far – with assists from forwards David Scheinker and Michael Friedland. This onslaught forced WPU to change their goalie and play a more aggressive game. The result: a pair of late-period goals against Penn (one unassisted) and a matching pair of penalties for cross-checking and interference. Penn registered a pair of penalties as well during the increasingly heated action (for tripping and interference) and, at the close of the first period, left the ice for the dressing room confidently yet concerned with their marginal 4-3 lead over WPU. Play during the second period, which was equally combative and hard-hitting, reflected the Quakers’ eagerness to stretch their one-point lead. Evidence of this was posted on the scoreboard regularly, in the form of penalty minutes, for all in attendance to see. Two minutes were charged to Penn for roughing followed by two minutes for tripping on WPU and so on. Embattled and hungry for another taste of a goal, last period’s assist-man Daniel Remick became the goal scorer with an assist from frosh forward Micha Cohen. That goal was, in fact, the only one to occur in period two, but just as memorable and critical was the performance of Penn goalie Adam Kweskin who made some spectacular saves. That “invisible barrier” in front of Penn’s goal continued to deflect any and all shots fired upon it by the now-desperate WPU team as the minutes of the final period ticked. Performing at their fiercest yet smoothest to date, the Quakers racked up some more penalty minutes and were able to combine efforts to effectively freeze that 5-3 score for period three’s entire duration – thereby making it the final score and making the Quakers winners in both a literal and emotional sense. As the born-again Penn Quakers gave each other kudos during the game’s traditional post-play display of unity and camaraderie, each team member undoubtedly reserved a place in their mind for this collaborative effort that will (and should) be identified as a true turning point for the team and for themselves. With the subsequent shift in attitude and confidence, more exciting wins will likely come their way.                                                                             ~Timothy F. Fahey