RPI Women's Hockey

[RPIHFH]

Engineers drop first game of 2005 4-3 to Manhattanville. From the sounds of it, it was a really hard fought game with the difference being a short-handed goal by the Valiants with just under 10 left in the third.

[mr_itty]

Just got back from the arena. It was a very good game, with lots of back-and-forth action. Neither team was ever up by more than one goal. Hopefully RPI can come out on top tomorrow. BTW, the RPI Athletics page has that game one hour earlier than today's - 2pm.

This is my first away game for the women's team, and therefore the first time I've seen another D3 arena. Perhaps the HFH and D1 in general colors my view, but the arena was just absurd. The place is clearly not built for spectator events. It could probably seat a maximum of one hundred, including the upstairs seats used for the public to change their shoes before skating. The bleachers on ice level are a series of three rows of benches, that seem to be there as an afterthought more than anything else. Can anyone help me out? Am I right that this is just the difference between a D3 arena and a D1 arena?

Oh, and I think it's possible there were more RPI fans than M'ville fans today. Certainly the crowd was louder for RPI's goals than the Valiants'.

Looking forward to tomorrow's game!

[hab]

I was at the game today as well, and agree that it was a good game...could have gone either way. Collegehockeystats.com shows a big shot differential but I have trouble believing it. The real scoring opportunities seemed pretty even. Disappointing loss for RPI, but they should be encouraged that it demonstrates that they can be very competitive with any D3 team. I saw the two regular season games between these two teams last year as well, and thought that Manhattanville was dominant in those, even though the games were split. If today's game is a good indication, I think that RPI has a much more realistic shot at the ECAC East title this year than they had last year.

[rpi_fan03]

mr_itty- Indeed there is a big difference between D1 and D3 arenas, but having played at Playland I can tell you that the spectator consideration is not the only thing that was an afterthough there. Playland used to be the NY Rangers practice arena, so I would assume that is the main reason for most of the issues people have with it. The home teams locker rooms are incredible (as the men's used to be for the Rangers, and the women's was modeled after that one) but after that, I can honestly say that playing on a pond might be better.
The ice surfaces is a couple feet longer than what is considered "regulation size" and is a few feet more narrow...it's a very awkward shape to get used to. Also, the away team locker rooms from the bench are a nice walk...half the length of the rink, up some stairs, back down a hall longer than the rink and into a series of what I would lovingly refer to as catacombs. The locker rooms consists of a door leading to a hallway with 4 rooms...a shower, a bathroom, and two miniature "dressing rooms". So if you were a visiting team, this hallway would be your home for a couple days. And you would be lucky that there were two dressing rooms because you literally cannot fit an entire team in one room...even without half of their equipment...it causes some problems with team meeting times between periods.
So, basically all I can say is that while Playland has these issues, they are not reflective of most D3 rinks (although you get a couple duds)...and I assume if M'Ville ever built their own rink it would be a different story.
Also, if you think Playland is bad you should take a trip the to rink they USED to play in...all I need to say is that in order to get to the rink you had to walk through part of a mall and once you got in the rink you needed to wear sunglasses thanks to the crazy mural covering the whole wall!

[mr_itty]

And you would be lucky that there were two dressing rooms because you literally cannot fit an entire team in one room...even without half of their equipment...it causes some problems with team meeting times between periods.

Oh, that was the other thing I meant to mention - the RPI team seemed to hold their team meeting on the bleachers just outside the rink during both period breaks. It was all very odd.

In any case, I'll be checking out and heading to the second game in about 2 hours. Let's Go Red!

[stetem]

I guess its not news anymore that RPI doesnt like the facilties at Manhattanville

I'm not real sure the Valiant players like it either

Could it be the home rink advantage at Manhattanville is to much to ask of a visiting team's to overcome

[hab]

Truth is, of course, that the only real hurdle for visiting teams at this rink is that they have to play the Valiants. They have a great team and RPI should feel good about the fact that for 4 out of 6 periods they looked equal to the Vals, but they would have needed 6 strong periods to take this series. Hope they earn a rematch here in the conference finals. Stetem and Valfan it was nice to meet you.

[hab]

Truth is, of course, that the only real hurdle for visiting teams at this rink is that they have to play the Valiants. They have a great team and RPI should feel good about the fact that for 4 out of 6 periods they looked equal to the Vals, but they would have needed 6 strong periods to take this series. Hope they earn a rematch here in the conference finals. Stetem and Valfan it was nice to meet you.

[starsparents]

Came down from Conn to see RPI play, did not seem that close, as RPI never could set up in MVille zone. Seemed like alot of turnovers by RPI, and a lot of pucks just tossed out of the RPI end by RPI. Alot of individual attempts by forwards resulting in forwards being taken off the puck. Mville did enough to win, but it looked as though the game was never in doubt.

[mr_itty]

I find myself forced to agree with Starsparents. This game wasn't nearly as competitive as yesterday's. RPI just didn't look like they had it together nearly as well. There were two different instances of sustained 5-on-3 play, and RPI's PP unit just couldn't find the net. On more than one occasion, they looked like they were having problems communicating - they bumped into each other, prevented each other from getting the puck, and made attempts at drop-off passes without a teammate behind them. Much sloppier than yesterday.

There were more than a few odditties in today's game too. First, about 3 minutes afer M'ville's first goal, it looked as though they scored another while on a powerplay. The play stopped, the M'ville fans and bench both went nuts... but then nothing. I actually didn't realize the score was still 1-0 until I noticed RPI's player still in the box.

About five minutes left in the game, one of the Valiants was down on the ice in their own zone. The puck at that point was in the neutral zone controlled by Manhattanville, so I didn't see what actually happened. She was down for a good 5 or 10 minutes however. After the trainers and EMTs finally helped her off (basically just guiding her and letting her skates slide along), play looked ready to resume.... until the ref signaled that it would be a *Manhattanville* player going into the box. What for, no one knew - least of all the Valiants' Coach, who kinda went a little nuts screaming and jumping. Finally the Ref booted her from the game, and sent another player to the box with a bench minor. Play finally resumed, and M'ville was able to stave off the final minutes of Powerplay action to win the game (but not before getting a short-handed open-net goal to make it 4-1).

In any event, there's no doubt in my mind that RPI and Manhattanville are still the best two teams in this league, and will likely be meeting one last time in the playoffs before RPI goes to D1.

RPI returns home next weekend for a series with Holy Cross. Hopefully they can put these losses behind them - perhaps taking a few pointers with them - and resume their winning ways.

[Edster007]

The reason why the M'ville bench went nuts was that the injured player was taken down with an open ice hit by #24 on RPI. Apparently the linesman told the Refs of the hit, who did not see it but still chose to not call the penalty. So the bench which was upset already at the non-call boiled over. I myself was looking at the down player so when I saw the Ref head towards the box I thought he was calling 24 red after the fact. Instead I saw two M'ville players go to the box.

As for the disallowed goal in the first, it went in off a leg. Would have been nice to have an announcement for the fans. I just happened to be standing at that end.

[MagicHound]

Regarding a goal being scored off a leg. Unless the puck is "kicked" in or batted with a hand it's my understanding this should be a goal. The puck deflecting off a body part should not be waved off.

I wasn't there or do I even know which team it was that "scored", not that it really matters, but I thought I'd post this to see if others may know the correct reasoning for the call.

[stetem]

Regarding a goal being scored off a leg. Unless the puck is "kicked" in or batted with a hand it's my understanding this should be a goal. The puck deflecting off a body part should not be waved off.

I wasn't there or do I even know which team it was that "scored", not that it really matters, but I thought I'd post this to see if others may know the correct reasoning for the call.

immediately after the puck entered the net the reff waived it off with a very slight and barely noticable kicking motion

[stetem]

Truth is, of course, that the only real hurdle for visiting teams at this rink is that they have to play the Valiants. They have a great team and RPI should feel good about the fact that for 4 out of 6 periods they looked equal to the Vals, but they would have needed 6 strong periods to take this series. Hope they earn a rematch here in the conference finals. Stetem and Valfan it was nice to meet you.

THX Hab...was great meeting you too...always fun meeting other posters
i've got a qustion for you
did you guys kidnap the reff's between the 2nd and 3rd periods to replace them with your own reff's :rolleyes:

[Edster007]

Regarding a goal being scored off a leg. Unless the puck is "kicked" in or batted with a hand it's my understanding this should be a goal. The puck deflecting off a body part should not be waved off.

I wasn't there or do I even know which team it was that "scored", not that it really matters, but I thought I'd post this to see if others may know the correct reasoning for the call.


The goal should have been allowed. The call was bad, just providing the ref's take. If there was intent she did a good job hiding it.

[jericho]

Just a reminder that the woomen's game will be live on WRPI tomorrow. 91.5 FM if you are local, www.wrpi.org to listen over the internet. Air time is approximately 2:55 PM EST.

[hab]

THX Hab...was great meeting you too...always fun meeting other posters
i've got a qustion for you
did you guys kidnap the reff's between the 2nd and 3rd periods to replace them with your own reff's :rolleyes:
Yup. For a small ransom we'll give the Valiant refs back, but not until after the ECAC finals. :D You might have to go with impartial refs to get you through the rest of the regular season. ;) Seriously, 'though I thought the referrees were weak: no big change from what I have seen in most D3 games. My biggest complaint is their tendency to look for a penalty call every time a player goes down.

[mr_itty]

I missed yesterday's game due to prior commitments, but I'm currently sitting in section 16 at the Field House. I'm hoping today's game washes the taste from the last four men's games out of my mouth.

33:20 until puck drop, and the ladies just took the ice for warm ups. Good luck Red!

[dayglo]

Seriously, 'though I thought the referrees were weak: no big change from what I have seen in most D3 games. My biggest complaint is their tendency to look for a penalty call every time a player goes down.

don't feel too bad; we see that a lot in D1 also - esp. if a "big girl" collides with a smaller player.

[jericho]

The game on 1/22 against New England College will be broadcast live on www.wrpi.org and 91.5 FM at 3 pm.