Senior night was quite an event, with roughly 350 fans packing the small Skating Edge Ice Arena. Including a raucous crowd of fraternity members, who knocked out a piece of glass in the second period.
The Lions honored their eight seniors, Clem, Sedgwick, Kilkenny, Footlick, Billings, Hirai, Andrade and Bennett. One of the most prolific classes in team history, finishing with 3 top ten scorers in team history, Footlick with the most wins in team history, and Bennett playing the third most games in team history.
After honoring the seniors, the game got underway as the Lions faced seventh ranked UCLA at home in their first meeting of the year. UCLA would get on the board first, with a PP goal midway through the first. But minutes later, Manzer scored to tie the game 1-1.
In the second, UCLA would get scoring again, taking a 2-1 lead. But the Lions took over control of the game, scoring two quick goals, as Ryan Hirai and Connor Kilkenny scored a minute apart, forcing UCLA to use their timeout. The game evened after this, and went to intermission early as the rink fixed the glass. As the second resumed, UCLA scored to tie the game.
In the third, UCLA scored twice to take a two goal lead. Gabi Rodriguez stole a puck and scored shorthanded to bring the Lions within one halfway through the third. The Lions pressured in the final minutes, with Footlick pulled for the extra skater, but after firing multiple shots at the net, the Lions fell 5-4 to #7 UCLA.
Overall it was a great night for the Lions, who celebrated one of their best classes, and played a great game in front of a packed arena.
The Lions finish off league play this weekend vs. UCSB, and take on USC to win the Century cup again. Following that the Lions will prepare for the final weeks of the season before hopefully qualifying for the ACHA Regionals for the third time in team history!