When Delaware scored in double overtime to beat Ohio in the quarterfinals of the American Collegiate Hockey Association national tournament Sunday, it ended a season full of heartbreak rather than joy for the Bobcats.
Looking back at 2011–12, most will see that Ohio came up short of all three of its major goals — a Central States Collegiate Hockey League regular-season title, a CSCHL tournament title and an American Collegiate Hockey Association national title — for just the second time since the 2002–03 season.
But the season had its highs as well, as the team won 27 games, developed a number of young players for the future and finished runner-up in both CSCHL races.
High: CSCHL semifinal win over Robert Morris
Ohio’s 3-2 overtime win against Robert Morris in the CSCHL tournament semifinals was by far the most exciting and competitive of the 19 games the Bobcats played at Bird Arena this season and is probably the team’s high-water mark.
It was 65 minutes and 33 seconds of everything you’d want in a hockey game: controversial no-goals, plenty of penalties, massive momentum swings, a huge comeback, and a tension-filled, sudden-death overtime.
Morris summed it up best afterward by calling it “a roller-coaster ride.”
After tying the game with back-to-back third-period goals, Robert Morris almost won the game on an overtime power play, but freshman goaltender Brendan Madden made three huge saves to keep his team in the game.
Just minutes later, Zach Tisdale tipped in a pass from John Luciana for the game winner to send Bird Arena into jubilation.
“All and all, it was just a great team effort,” Morris said after the game. “Shaking hands, you could see a lot of pride on their side. They were spent, and they were proud they gave the effort that they gave.”
LOW: CSCHL final loss to Lindenwood
Perhaps Ohio’s lowest point came just 17 hours after Tisdale’s goal when they let in three third-period goals to Lindenwood to lose the tournament championship game 6-4.
The Bobcats and Lions were tied at 3-3 heading into the third, and early in the period, Ohio looked to be gaining the upper hand. But a Luciana tripping penalty, which negated a breakaway, gave Lindenwood the deciding power play.
The goal broke the backs of the mentally drained Bobcats, who let in two more in quick succession as Lindenwood romped to the tournament crown.
“Our mental focus just kind of collapsed there around the 12-minute mark. We lost focus for a couple minutes, and they got those three in a row,” forward Jonathan Pietramala said. “We made bad mistakes here and there, and they’d capitalize on everything.”
High: Morris Nets 300th win
Ohio’s 2-1 victory against Indiana on Nov. 12 was more than just Ohio’s 12th or the season or just another CSCHL regular-season win.
It was also the milestone 300th of Morris’s tenure behind the Ohio bench.
“(Captain) Mike Schultz presented me with the game puck and the guys gave me a nice, warm applause, so I guess that feels good,” Morris said after the game. “It means a lot to me to have (assistant coach) Steve Osacky and the staff and the players with me for it. … So yeah, it was pretty neat.”
After Ohio’s 27 wins in the 2011–12 season, Morris now has 315 in his 11 seasons as head coach for an average of just less than 29 victories a season.
Low: Season sweep by Penn State
It isn’t a stretch to say Ohio’s heated rivalry with Penn State made the ACHA into what it is today. With the Icers playing one more ACHA season before moving up to the NCAA level, both teams wanted to get the last laugh.
Unfortunately for Ohio, Penn State likely fielded its best squad in recent memory. Not only did the Bobcats lose their ACHA measuring stick, but they were also swept by the Icers 4-0 this season.
Penn State outscored Ohio 18-6 this season. Though the losses were tough to take, losing a rival — and the best opponent for ticket sales — was the bitterest pill to swallow for Morris.
“It’s the relationship you have with them,” he said. “There are a lot of good, solid relationships we have between the two organizations. Those are the things I’ll personally miss.”
