Hockey starts conference play undefeated

The ECU ice hockey team is red hot and riding high after two victories this past weekend. The Pirates (5-2, 3-0) look to be serious contenders in the ACHA South once again after the hot start, including their most recent wins over Christopher Newport and Duke (Division II).

ECU knocked off division rival CNU, 8-4, in Yorktown, Va. on Friday before holding off the Blue Devils in Hillsborough on Saturday, 4-2.

"When you come out strong, it really sets the tone for the season," said center Zach Johnston. "We really like to come out hard and let everyone else in the league know, and the whole ACHA know what we're all about this year."

Senior Ian Falcon set up right-winger Sam Duehring with the game-winner against Duke to put the Pirates up 2-1 in the second period.

"I beat the defender down the right side," Duehring said of his game-clinching goal. "The goalie left me a five hole and I put it between his legs."

Duehring put the game away with 3:19 left to play in the second period when he and Sean Burns teamed up for a power play score. Duehring fired a shot past the right side of the goaltender to give the Pirates a 3-1 advantage.

The Blue Devils fought back with a power play goal of their own but Steven Allbright nailed the coffin shut with a score to make the final, 4-2.

Sophomore Nick Dinardo started the scoring with a goal, five minutes into the first period off Falcon's first assist.

ECU never trailed against CNU, but did not pull away until late in the game. Scott Graham, Mitchell Sears and Johnston all netted third period goals to seal the game for the Pirates.

"It was a night where all of the lines were producing," said Johnston. "Everybody was just clicking and playing well. … In the second period, we really started to drop off. They [CNU] decided to fight back and push. Eventually we just decided that we weren't going to lose the game."

ECU jumped out to a 3-0 lead against CNU, but the Captains fought back with two second period goals to stay alive.

Falcon and center Chris Cesario answered with goals to give ECU a 5-2 lead at the end of the second period.

Matt Contipodero, David Orlando and Allbright each scored in the first period, igniting a balanced scoring attack that featured goals by eight different Pirates.

Consistent production from rookies like Contipodero, Orlando and Matt Steffens has provided a lift to the young Pirate squad.

"We're playing good," said Steffens. "The team's coming together well. We're dropping penalties a lot more. There's a lot more communication on the bench and on the ice and there's a lot more chemistry."

Markham has been especially impressed with the play of forward Chris Brennan, who has tallied two goals and two assists so far this season.

"Chris Brennan is probably one of the best-skilled players on the team," said Markham. "He's going to be something to watch in the next couple of years. He's a good player."

ECU opened the season with two hard-fought losses at Florida Gulf Coast, the No. 1 ranked team in the South.

Since then, the Pirates have reeled off victories against Virginia (DII), Old Dominion and Richmond, in addition to the recent wins over CNU and Duke.

"We really discovered how our team is going to gel and how we're going to come together this year," Johnston said of the FGCU game. "The competition was very good. To be able to play a close game with that good of a team really shows us where we need to be at the end of the season."

The Pirates appeared in the No. 6 spot in the first DIII South rankings of the season. FGCU, Tennessee, Georgia Tech, UCF and Loyola rounded out the top-five.

"It's not that important at all," Markham said of the polls. "There's only one ranking that we look at [that's] to be able to get to the nationals at the end of the year."

ECU now sits atop the Colonial Division of the Blue Ridge Hockey Conference with wins over ODU, Richmond and CNU.

The Pirates return to action this weekend against Kennesaw State (DII), which has quickly become a powerhouse in the southeast. The Owls brought the DIII National Championship back to Georgia in 2007 before moving up to DII.

KSU knocked off ECU, 8-0 in the South Regional Tournament during their championship season. Earlier in that season, the Owls held on for a 10-6 victory over the Pirates.

"They usually have a solid team," said Markham. "It will be a good game with us being in their barn. It will be a good test for us."

ECU returns home next week for a 9:30 rematch with Duke on Nov. 7.

This writer can be contacted at sports@theeastcarolinian.com