By Gavin Lindahl
Assistant Sports Editor
After three straight wins, it’s been all smiles for the Bona’s hockey team recently, according to senior forward Michael Iulianello.
“Team morale is at an all-time high, and we’re all back to just having fun and working hard,” said Iulianello. “This semester has been a completely different team and season – everything is different.”
Bonnies hockey has strung together three wins in a row after dropping their first game back from winter break, and the team looks to continue the streak going forward into this weekend.
Sophomore forward Andrew Chadwick has been perhaps one of the team’s most explosive forwards since the start of the second semester, finding the back of the net four times in the last three games. According to Iulianello, Chadwick has scored the big goals – something missing from the Bonnies’ game last semester.
“He’s really come through big this semester for us and has scored goals when we needed a momentum swing.” Iulianello said. “We all just want to win. After being the underdog all season, we’re grinding to sneak into the playoffs.”
Aside from Chadwick, the Bonnies have had a spread of players scoring. In the last three games, 10 players have recorded at least one point.
“The scoring has been pretty even across the lines, and it shows how much depth we have,” Iulianello said. “It’s the result of a unit of five on the ice working on the same goal.”
According to Iulianello, putting numbers on the board hasn’t been the only thing the Bonnies have been working on in practice. The mental lapses and lazy penalties that killed the team last semester are being addressed.
“Penalties are a part of the game and something that we can’t rid completely,” Iulianello said. “But our new coaching staff has stressed the importance of focusing on playing as a solid unit to kill penalties and working together on the ice.”
The Bonnies are playing tonight at 8:30 in Olean at the William O. Smith Recreation Center against the University at Buffalo. The last meeting between Buffalo and the Bonnies resulted in a lopsided 12-4 loss for the Bonnies.
“Buffalo is still in the hunt to make nationals, so this game is really important for them. Although it doesn’t count for points for us, it is still important for us to come out and fight hard,” Iulianello said. “We need to use our speed and attack their defense if we want to hang with them.”
After their game against Buffalo, the Bonnies will hit the road to face off against Canisius Sunday at 4 p.m. in the Hyde Park Pavillion. The Bonnies lost 4-3 last semester against Canisius.
“We want to keep this win streak and momentum going into Sunday,” Iulianello said. “If we win this game and our upcoming game against Cornell – and if we get some help – then we will be in the playoffs.”
