On Saturday night the John Carroll hockey team traveled to Wheeling to take on the #22 West Virginia University Mountaineers in a game with major conference title implications. JCU looked sluggish to start as the Mountaineers got on the board first. That seemed to be the wake up the Blue Streaks needed as Logan Lopicka got in on the forecheck and tied the game at one before the end of the first period. After WVU took and early lead in the second, Lopicka again got involved in the scoring, assisting on fellow Freshman Kevin Vinyard's goal that tied the game once again.

Then in the third the game changed when West Virginia took the lead. Defensman Parker Phillips got tangled up with a West Virginia forward which enabled the Mountaineer forward to get to a loose puck which was converted into the go ahead goal. Phillips got his chance for redemption on the power play with under 3 minutes to go in the game when he let a shot from the point go with the West Virginia goaltender out of position. As the puck hit the back of the net the referee waved off the goal as West Virginia had knocked the net off the pegs. JCU had a few more chances but couldn't find the back of the net as WVU added an empty net goal for a 4-2 win.

JCU returns home this weekend for another big conference matchup with University of Pittsburgh on Friday at 8:10. Sunday the team plays host to Robert Morris University (PA) in a SUPER BOWL Sunday matchup. Come out and support Blue Streak hockey!