Issue date: 12/1/04 Section: Sports

Just as everyone at Suffolk University was getting ready to go home for a much-needed week of rest, relaxation and turkey, the Rams hockey team earned their first win of the young 2004 season.

Suffolk snapped their three-game losing streak at Steretti Rink in the North End on Tuesday, Nov. 23, when they defeated Western New England College by a score of 4-3. The win lifted the Rams to 1-3 overall.

Senior Bill Corcoran led the way for the Rams with a goal and two assists, giving him a total of four points on the season. Freshman Ryan Coakley scored his team leading third goal of the year and also added an assist in the win.

The Rams saw junior goalie Greg Blais stuff 42 shots in his third start this season. The team was finally able to get a hard fought victory under their belts.

Before their impressive win against WNEC, Suffolk dropped their first three games, including the season opener against Stonehill College.

The Rams came up short against Wentworth, which was ranked number two in the preseason coaches' poll.

Suffolk was ranked number five prior to the start of the season but was dealt a hefty blow by Wentworth, losing by a score of 5-2. The Rams took home a third loss against Johnson and Wales University, which was ranked last in the preseason coaches' poll. Suffolk went down hard again, dropping the game 6-2.

Yet, the team turned things against Western New England. "This was by far our best effort of the season," commented head coach Chris Glionna.

"Everyone played with more discipline, and the younger kids have started to adjust more to the college game."

It is clear that the Rams are improving in all areas with each game that passes. Since the first game of the season, penalties have been a problem for Glionna's team. In the Ram's loss to Johnson and Wales, Suffolk committed 20 penalties.

However, in the Rams' recent victory against Western New England, that number was reduced to eight. The team is averaging 14.2 penalties per game this year, while their opponents are averaging 12.2.

Glionna said, "If we can keep it at eight penalties or less in each game, we will be in every game."

The Rams have a grueling schedule waiting ahead of them. The team's next game will be against Franklin Pierce College on Wednesday, Dec. 1, and will be held at Boston University.

After Franklin Pierce, the Rams will take on Worcester State and Salve Regina in hopes to improve in the Eastern College Athletic Conference Northeast standings.

Only the top eight teams in the standings make the playoffs, which places an even greater importance on Suffolk's upcoming conference match-ups.

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