fightingsioux4life

Good points. You're right, it's early and you often learn more from failures than successes. And we did turn it on after Christmas last season, including at home. But I also believe that it is absolutely critical for this team to establish a solid record before Christmas so we can make a run for the MacNaughton Cup and put ourselves in position for the playoffs (Final Five and NCAA Tournament). And there are some good teams on our schedule before 2007 is over (Denver, Minnesota, New Hampshire), so we better bring our A game every weekend. Tonight was more like our C+ game.

Yes, but this was only our third home game so far (we've been on the road a lot to start this season). And this was our first series at home. I think that if Michigan State had the chance to play us the next night, they would have performed much better and we would have had to step up to the challenge in order to earn the sweep. Tonight, we didn't do that. I'm not panicking over one loss to a good team, but I just want us to establish home dominance like we had in the 1980's and 1990's. That is what championship teams do. And if this team is going to fulfill its potential this season, they are going to have to make REA their personal playground (like the old REA was for almost 30 years).

We had better get used to playing against good goaltending because every team in this league has at least one good goaltender (sometimes two). Even a team like Anchorage usually has a good netminder. We had chances in the first period, but we didn't generate much for the final 40 minutes, being in the box for half the second period will do that. And there were logo-killers, shots from bad angles and shots from the faceoff circles and outside, which usually are not going to go into the net at the D-I level. The Rodents really tested this kid a couple of weeks ago; I wish we would have at least done that tonight. I think everyone knew that the Tigers would come out and play much better tonight after being embarrassed at times last night. And after losing three straight, they were bound to be a little desperate for a win. I don't think we matched their intensity or their hustle and that is a no-no in this league. A split next week in the Kohl Center would be fine, splits at home are unacceptable. We have to get back to being dominant at home and taking ownership of REA. We also have to establish some game-to-game consistency in order to contend for the WCHA title. If we can establish those things in the first half of this season, we'll be fine for the second half and the stretch run to the playoffs.

Power Play coming up.

We cannot afford to split at home with the league being as tough as it is.

We are going to have to cut out the stupid penalties against a team that can make you pay for them.

Wait, I thought that was a certain football program in Fargo? Oh, never mind.

FINAL SCORE UND 31 UMD 14 Up next, St. Cloud at the Alerus Center.

Sioux pass to the 25 yard line of UMD. Ballgame!

1:00 left. Looks like a solid win for North Dakota.

Pass incomplete at 25 yard line. Sioux take over on downs.

QB draw to the 48 yard line. One yard short of first down. Dogs going for it again.

Schlafke screen pass to 42 yard line. 3 yard gain. 3rd down coming up.

Schlafke incomplete pass. 2nd down coming up.

Schlafke passes to 35 yard line. One yard short of first down. Dogs will go for it. Schlafke runs for first down to 39.

UMD calls timeout. 3:52 left in game.

Screen pass for 5 yards. Another big 3rd and 5 coming up.

Running play for no gain.

Freund to Josh Murray to the 27 yard line. Made something out of nothing. Time for a FG. 43 yard field goal attempt. No good to the left. 5:08 left UND 31 UMD 14

Chappell stopped for no gain again. 3rd and 10 coming up.

Chappell is stopped for no gain.

Chappell to the 32 yard line. 14 yards. FIRST DOWN!

Punt nearly blocked. Ball stops at UMD 46. Let's bury the Dogs right now.

8:46 left in game. Four receiver set. Drake Otto with the sack!!!

Sioux with five defensive backs. Pass is incomplete at the 33 yard line.