Yup, it really happened. What a time for it, as well.

A story was told tonight by way of executing a game plan with no regard for circumstances. It may seem like a ludicrous notion when you look at it at face value, but even from the first period, this was evident. The Trailblazers were out-shot 14-2 (attempts were 31-6) but the chance prevention was outstanding. Even on the penalty kill, they kept the Panthers to the perimeter and also ensured there was not much traffic, allowing Mathew Gover to make stops unimpeded. Additionally, throughout a good chunk of the first PK of the game on a slashing penalty called on Spencer Craig, they provided very little opportunity for the Panthers to sustain pressure. They were faced with a more intense attack and cycle after the call on Addam Brunner for a trip. However, Gover was able to stand tall. For their own part, with what penetration they did get, MCLA were able to create nearly an equivalent amount of high percentage looks. MCLA additionally had a significant advantage on the draw to help ensure they were playing the game on their own terms, as well, winning the faceoff battle 16-8. The game looked impossible to win on its face with any sort of context in mind, but they were doing their part to position themselves as well as they possibly could to make history.

During Donté DiPonio’s two-minute penalty for tripping, Luke Rhoss was able to beat Brandon Shantz on a sharp angle, putting MCLA up 1-0 a few minutes into the second frame, with assists credited to Chris Gallagher and Cody White. Per firsthand accounts, this sucked a considerable amount of life out of Hanaway Rink. The Panthers subsequently had some mental lapses, seemingly making unforced errors and not playing with the same clinical nature they typically do with possession of the puck. With just under four minutes remaining, Easton Moore set up Sam Zis from Gretzky’s office after Sean Schifferl did some excellent work on the forecheck to win a puck battle, with Moore and Schifferl consequently being credited for the assists on Zis’ excellent one-time release. The Panthers subsequently would spend a considerable amount of time on the penalty kill, as their mental game seemingly collapsed. The second period would end with a situation wherein they’d start the final stanza having to kill off a partial five-on-three (a situation that would actually occur consecutively, as they killed off one penalty only to put themselves back on a five-on-three). It would appear that this course of events had them rattled.

A noteworthy sequence featured the Trailblazers giving up a 2-on-0 off a turnover, but they did not pay for it as Gover made the stop. This did, however, set the tone for the team making some miscues, which one behind the net ultimately led to their first goal against with Brendan Doyle capitalizing for the Panthers. A handful of minutes later, MCLA took a too many men on the ice penalty. There was some threatening by the Panthers on the ensuing power play. However, Gover made the stops and the PK unit made the necessary clears. For reasons I am not sure of, head coach Craig Russell did not opt to pull Shantz during the PP to create a 6-on-4. Instead, the net only emptied after the MCLA PK had been successful. The game ended with MCLA doing what they had done right in their own zone throughout much of the game, keeping PSU to the outside and blocking attempts. The bench erupted as the puck went to the corner in the dying seconds as history was made in the quarterfinals of the MASCAC Tournament. The five-time champions were defeated in round one of the expanded format by the eighth seed, in the juggernauts’ final season in the conference.

This result would have been significant no matter the circumstances. There was just no seeing it coming. A typically optimistic performance against PSU would involve a good stretch of offensive play, such as when Cade Herrera netted a hat trick in the home game last season (a 7-4 defeat, which Herrera’s hat trick finishing goal brought the score to 4-3 PSU during) wherein some glimmers of hope would be felt. The two regular season games this season did not even have that much room for expectations, as MCLA were outscored 10-2. However, MCLA played their game in the quarterfinals and won the mental battle against the heavily favored opponent. They turned it into a fairly low-event game wherein PSU were forced to take a lot of empty calorie shots, with Gover doing what he does best when called upon. They will face another challenge in Anna Maria on Sunday in the semifinals, but the space to dream has been created tonight. Boy, is that some plentiful space, as well.