Michigan State University Athletics
Hockey Completes Sweep of Nebraska-Omaha, 3-1
6/21/1999 12:00:00 AM | Men's Ice Hockey
December 5, 1998
EAST LANSING, Mich. - After scoring all of its goals in the final 15 minutes of Friday's game, the Spartan hockey team took care of matters early in Saturday's series finale against Nebraska-Omaha.
All four goals came in the first 11 minutes, as Michigan State posted a 3-1 win over the Mavericks behind senior center Mike York's two goals.
The Spartans established a new school record, extending their home unbeaten streak to 21 games (17-0-4). They last lost at home on Dec. 7, 1997, a 1-0 decision to Bowling Green.
York started the scoring for the second night in a row, stickhandling out of the left wing corner to the crease. He lost control momentarily but spun around and backhanded it past goaltender Jason Mitchell.
The Mavericks tied the score less than a minute later, with James Chalmers responding on a power play for UNO.
York came back with another highlight-film goal, moving around a Nebraska-Omaha defenseman at the blue line and drawing Mitchell out of his crease. With Mitchell on the ice, York fired the puck into the empty net.
For York, who had just three goals in his first 13 games, it was the third goal of the weekend and the 49th multiple-point game of his career.
"A couple of weeks ago, I probably would have hit the post and they would have come back and scored," York laughed. "I really didn't do anything different, though, I just kept playing my game."
Sophomore center Rustyn Dolyny added the Spartans' third goal less than a minute after York's in what appeared to be the third of many Spartan goals. But with MSU's play slipping, UNO picking up the pace and a number of penalties, the game remained 3-1.
"Tonight wasn't a classic college hockey game," head coach Ron Mason said. "After the first period, they carried the play and had us on our heels."
The rest of the game became bogged down in penalties, as the two teams combined for 27 whistles for 54 minutes. From the 15-minute mark of the first period, the longest stretch of time without a penalty was 5:23.
"We really had to concentrate on how many guys were on the ice and how many you are supposed to have," York said. "You don't want to ice the puck when you're on the power play."
Joe Blackburn made 21 saves for MSU, as the Spartans were outshot 22-20, just the second time this year the Spartans were outshot.
"I figured after getting only nine shots last night that they would be shooting from anywhere," said Blackburn, who allowed one goal or less for the 10th time in 14 games this year. "We got in a bit of a lull after the first period, but I give them credit, they showed a lot of character and kept coming at us."
The Spartans, who improved to 10-3-2 overall (6-2-2 CCHA), return to action against Northern Michigan next Saturday, Dec. 12.
