Plague hits Case Western hard in season opener

Pandemonium struck late Nov. 8 at Winterhurst Arena in Cleveland as this year's epidemic, the Oberlin Plague, held on to escape with a narrow victory against Case Western Reserve University.

With a game clinching goal for Oberlin's club ice hockey team by first-year defenseman, Dan "Raymond" Bourque in the final minute, Oberlin secured its first victory of the season. The game started with hard feelings and obscenities, stemming from a one point loss in a game between the teams last year.

Case scored first in the opening period, but not without retaliation with a quick answer from Villanova transfer, sophomore Greg "Snipps" Scranton, as he rocketed a shot from just inside the blue line, leaving the Case goalie bewildered. But Scranton didn't stop there.

Just minutes later, Oberlin took the lead as Scranton scored his second goal of the game.

Intense play continued as the game was open to any team who was willing to take claim of the victory. Hard hits and stellar goaltending by the impermeable transfer first-year Sam Cullman, kept the Oberlin crowd - a rowdy pack though they numbered just seven - pounding on the glass.

Case Western looked like they found a cure-all as they managed two goals in the second period, darkening hopes for a Plague triumph.

Penalties weakened the intensity of the Plague offense. Then things started looking good as first-year Ben Bernard scored a short-handed goal, with Oberlin down by two men, tying the game at four. From then on the Plague was invincible as the game ended in a 7-5 victory.

"The Plague is destined to spread throughout the entire league wiping out all opponents or shall we say victims," junior Scott Shepherd, Oberlin's player-coach, said.

The Plague schedule for the next few weeks is uncertain, but there are likely to be some games on Oberlin's ice.

Sitting, not skating: Members of the ice hockey team stretch out (photo by Fernando Miguel Bretos)