2007-2008 Game Recaps

Previous Seasons

2002-2003 Game Recaps
2003-2004 Game Recaps
2004-2005 Game Recaps
2005-2006 Game Recaps
2006-2007 Game Recaps

Learning Curve (9/28/2007)

CMU opened the season with an exhibition loss to Penn State Behrend on Friday night. Despite a quick start, the Tartans lost steam and could not hold off the opponent's offensive attack. CMU will look to sure up its defensive coverage as the regular season draws near.

Tartans Lose Focus in Home Opener (10/6/2007)

The Tartans opened the regular season with a 9-4 loss to California on Saturday. Cal jumped out to a big lead, scoring four goals in the first period. CMU showed some resiliency, putting three goals of its own on the board in the second frame. The Tartans scored on three consectutive shifts, as Greg Tanski got the team going by whipping home a wrist shot. Andrew Ugalde followed by deflecting a shot past the Cal netminder. Then, Will Hamilton danced around the opposition and buried a backhander for his second goal in as many games. Cal would respond with three goals in the second as well. In the third, Tanski notched his second of the game on a penalty shot. The Vulcans again responded with two more goals. The Tartans outshot Cal 49-32, but penalty trouble and missed opportunities sealed their fate.

Bag of Tricks Not Deep Enough (10/13/2007)

Despite hat tricks from two different players, CMU lost in a goal fest to Hilbert on Saturday. Andrew Ugalde gave the Tartans a 1-0 lead in the first period for his second goal in as many games. Hilbert scored twice, then Ryan Ralston nothced his first of the season. The Hawks rattled off four straight goals before Rorry Brenner got one back on breakaway while the teams were playing four-on-four. Hilbert stretched the lead to 8-3 by scoring twice in the second period. Ian Neill cashed in on a five-on-three power play to make it 8-4 heading into the third. Ryan Ralston completed the hat trick with two early goals in the third. Hilbert countered with two of their own before Ralston ripped home his fourth of the night. After another Hawks goal, Brenner scored twice to cap off his own hat trick. The Tartans pressed late, but Hilbert tacked on a power-play goal and a shorthanded goal to put the game out of reach, 13-9.

Quin-tastic (10/26/2007)

The Tartans beat Edinboro 7-5 Friday night behind a five-goal effort from Ryan Ralston and great goaltending from Dave Urban. Rorry Brenner added two goals of his own in the victory. Edinboro grabbed an early 1-0 lead and held a 4-3 edge after two periods of play. The Tartans then took the lead in the third only to see the Fighting Scots tie the game, 5-5, with only 1:23 left to play. After coincidental penalties, Ralston scored two quick four-on-four goals with 55 seconds and 35 seconds remaining to ice the win.

Little to Show (10/27/2007)

CMU put forth one of its most solid efforts of the season but could not find the net in a 4-0 loss to California on Saturday. A four-on-four goal and power-play marker gave the Vulcans a 2-0 lead after the first period. There was no scoring in the second frame, and California tacked on two even-strength goals in the third. The Tartans could not convert on several key five-on-three advantages during the contest. Anthony Kuhn and Dave Urban split time in goal, keeping CMU in the game throughout the night.

Closing the Deal (11/2/2007)

The Tartans traveled north to face Edinboro on Friday. After giving up the first goal, Steve Karolyi scored on the power play and Greg Tanski gave CMU its first lead shortly thereafter. Another Karolyi marker was followed by two Edinboro goals to make the score 3-3 after one. Karolyi converted for the hat trick in the second period and Tartan goaltender Anthony Kuhn kept the Fighting Scots off the board. The final period started with Matt Hawryluk scoring 57 seconds after the opening faceoff and later on a power play to give CMU a two-goal lead. Edinboro would add a fourth goal with four seconds left, but the Tartan defense held on for the 6-4 win.

Tartans Flat Line in Third Period (11/3/2007)

CMU dug itself a big hole on Saturday, giving up four first period goals to CCAC. After a CCAC five-on-three power-play goal in the second, the Tartans stormed back with two power-play goals of their own. Ryan Ralston threaded a shot into the top corner for the first goal, and Chris Faught finessed one in from the point. Trailing 5-2 after two periods, CMU looked to come out firing in the third. However, the onslaught came from the other side as CCAC tacked on five more scores before the final buzzer.

Tartans Solid at Home (11/10/2007)

The Tartans defeated Medaille Saturday for a 7-3 victory in their final home tilt of the semester. Playing in his final home game as an Ice Tartan, Dave Urban stood strong in net as the penalty-killing unit relied heavily on him in two five-on-three situations. It was during the first five-on-three penalty kill that the Tartans struck to take the lead, with Ryan Ralston cashing in on a partial breakaway. After Medaille tied the game four minutes later, the Tartans buried three in a row to take a 4-1 lead, overwhelming Medaille's goaltender with 26 shots in the first period. Steve Karolyi had two goals and an assist, as did Ralston. Chris Faught, Matt Hawryluk, and Brian Wade each scored once for CMU. Next week's game at Case Western will be the final one of the semester, as the Tartans look to finish strong.

Bad Taste (11/17/2007)

CMU will have to think about a tough loss as they head into the mid-season break. The Tartans ventured to Ohio on Saturday and dropped a 6-2 decision to Case Western. The Spartans took a 2-0 lead in the first period and never looked back. In the second, the two teams alternated goals with Case scoring two (one a crushing short-handed tally) and Ryan Ralston banging home two power-play goals for CMU. The home team added two more in the third period. Dave Urban made 43 saves in his final game as an Ice Tartan.

Alarm Goes Off Too Late for Tartans (1/25/2008)

CMU opened the second semester with a 7-3 loss at Allegheny on Friday. The Gators jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first period and added four more for a 6-0 cushion after two periods of play. The sluggish Tartans picked it up in the third with a goal from Steve Karolyi and two markers from Ryan Ralston. Allegheny scored again between the two Ralston goals. Anthony Kuhn made 34 saves in the loss.

Slow Starts a Haunting Trend (1/26/2008)

The Tartans again fell behind early on Saturday, eventually losing 7-5 to Case Western. With a rash of penalties early on, CMU surrendered three 5-on-3 power-play goals and a essentially a fourth as a player just stepped onto the ice when the Spartans' grabbed a 4-0 first period lead. Case Western scored first in the second period, but Rorry Brenner notched two quick scores to get CMU back in the game. The opponent added another in the second and scored first in the third period. Then, Matt Hawryluk snapped home a shot followed by two Ryan Ralston goals to make it 7-5. The Tartans pulled goaltender Ben Blum for an extra attacker but could not capitalize.

No Relief (2/2/2008)

The Tartans have still failed to put together a solid effort in the second semester, losing 9-1 to CCAC on Saturday. After another poor start, a Ryan Ralston goal kept the score close in the first period, but CMU could not turn it around. The Tartans pressured the opponent well at times, but sub-par decision making spelled disaster.

Hilbert 7, Carnegie Mellon 1 (2/8/2008)

Carnegie Mellon 7, Medaille 5 (2/9/2008)

Unfocused (2/15/2008)

The Tartans dropped their regular season finale to Allegheny on Friday. After a Gator shorthanded goal in the first period, Ryan Ralston tied the game and then gave CMU the lead with a shorty of his own. In the second period, CMU's penalty trouble allowed Allegheny to score three power-play goals. The opponent tacked on an even-strength marker to make it 4-2 after two periods of play. Matt Hawryluk got the Tartans rolling early in the third and cut the lead to one goal. However, Allegheny took control as the Tartans took themselves out of the game. Anthony Kuhn made several outstanding saves, but the team was overpowered. Final score: 9-3.