Men’s Division II Ice Hockey

Home ice advantage wasn’t enough to get the Panthers out… Men’s Division II Ice Hockey

Home ice advantage wasn’t enough to get the Panthers out of the first round in the University Hockey League playoffs.

Pitt played host to the eighth annual UHL playoff tournament at the Airport Ice Arena in Moon Township this past weekend.

The Panthers (9-17-1 overall, 4-5-0-1 UHL) gave up three third-period goals and were defeated 4-3 by North Carolina State Friday.

Just four minutes into the game, the Wolfpack had taken an early lead. Their 1-0 lead would only last for six minutes until the Panthers’ leading scorer, senior Mike King, scored a short-handed goal. The goal left the game tied heading into the second period.

Pitt held N.C. State to just six shots on goal in the second period. With just five minutes remaining, the only goal of the period was scored when junior Craig Halitsky lit the lamp to put the Panthers on top 2-1.

Just three minutes after the intermission, the score was tied again, but the Panthers answered just as quickly.

Junior Jared Leese scored his second goal of the season to give the Panthers the lead at 3-2. That would be the last time they would hold a lead.

The Wolfpack would go on to score two unanswered goals in the last half of the period to close out a come-from-behind playoff victory.

Pitt’s two leading scorers, King (15 goals, 17 assists) and Halitsky (11 goals, 20 assists), each finished with a goal and an assist in the losing effort.

Men’s Lacrosse

The men’s lacrosse team has found the perfect way to prepare for their three-game spring break trip:

Pick up steam by winning their first three games to jump out to a 3-0 record while outscoring their opponents by a combined total of 38-24.

After opening their season with a 12-11 win over Indiana, the Panthers felt confident heading into games against Central Michigan Friday and Buffalo Sunday.

“The Indiana game was one of the best lacrosse games I’ve ever seen here at Pitt,” head coach Robbie Heaps said. “It really gave us something to build off and teach from.”

The Panthers clearly did not experience a letdown, and defeated the Chippewas of Central Michigan on Friday night with a final score of 18-6.

Pitt faced a much tougher opponent Sunday. The Buffalo Bulls gave the Panthers everything they could handle, but fell short 8-7.

Heaps attributed the win to the strong play of senior goaltender and game-ball recipient Kyle Balliet.

“Kyle’s been doing a great job for us,” Heaps said. “Our starting goalie transferred, and we were left without a goalie. Kyle was one of the best attackmen but offered to give it a try. He’s really surprised us and is playing really well.”

Balliet and the Panthers will look to take their success on the road. The team leaves tomorrow for a spring break road trip that will include games against Clemson, Auburn and East Carolina.

Men’s Rugby

The men’s rugby club is looking for a few good men to replace the 13 starters that will graduate in the spring. In the meantime, those 13 starters are not giving up. The Panthers beat Franciscan 17-3 on Saturday in a game that was just as sloppy as the winterized field it was played on.

“Weather is the great equalizer,” head coach Dan Talbert said. “It was a very cold day, and the field was in horrible shape. We allowed the conditions to make the game closer than it was.”

Talbert added that the team was working in some younger players, and he was impressed with the overall performance of what he called a “good core group” of underclassmen.

Despite having a good core group of underclassmen, Talbert is always wanting more. He noted that a number of recruits and walk-ons are welcome to join his team.

He said that if anyone is interested in learning the sport and joining the club team during this “developmental” season, all are welcome. The Panthers practice on the Cathedral lawn Tuesdays and Thursdays at 4 p.m., and no prior experience is necessary.

Dave Thomas is a staff writer for The Pitt News. If you are a member of a club sport and would like your team covered in his weekly Club Sports Report, please have a coach or team contact person e-mail him at [email protected].