One cannot go to Gettysburg College and learn a little of it's rich Civil War history. The war between the states brought out the best and the worst in the country and a little of that was recreated on a different battlefield Saturday night. Once again the north and south would meet but this time on an ice rink just east of Gettysburg. The southern opponent would be a relatively unknown team in Virginia Commonwealth University.

Gettysburg had seen them only one time before, last season in a tournament, where Gettysburg skated away with a 5-2 victory. The Bullets were hoping to repeat that tonight. They came out of the locker room firing on all cylinders. In fact on the first two shifts the Bullets recorded 15 shots on goal, but still did not have anything to show for it. And it was VCU that would strike first on a backhand past freshman goaltender Alex McCarthy. The Bullets continued their onslaught of shots but still could not figure out the VCU goaltender. To make their troubles worse, one of the VCU forwards hung out behind the Gburg defense and skated in alone against McCarthy and socred thier second of the game.

The Bullets needed to change their game plan and did just that, from finesse to physical. A minute after the second VCU goal, senior Tom Swon came barreling in to the VCU defensesive zone and stole the puck and put it past the VCU goaltender. They kept up their physical play and their barrage of shots on net, and with a few minutes remaining in the period is was Sophomore Mike Schopp who received a pass sweet pass from captain Phil Deyette and Junior Ryan Flanagan, buried a shot to tie the game at two. The period ended with the Bullets outshooting VCU 28-6.

The second period started just like the first period with Gettysburg controlling most of the play and continuing putting shot after shot on net. But once again the VCU goaltender was able to hold is own, with a little help from the posts and Gburg's ability to hit an open net when the opportunity presented itself. Midway through the period the Bullets were on the powerplay and Deyette dangled around the defense and found the wide open Flanagan who one timed it in to the net, giving the Bullets their first lead of the night. The physical play kept up and both teams found themselves in the penalty box. But with a few minutes remaining in the second period, Sophomore Matt Simeoni gave a pass to freshman Tucker Sargent who took a shot and after a scrum in front, freshman Jon O'Hara picked up the loose puck and backhanded his first of the year.

Gburg entered the final period with a two goal lead and a 43-18 shot advantage. Both teams were looking for that important next goal but neither team could figure out the other team's goaltender. It was not until midway though the period when Schopp was able to get his second of the game and give the Bullets a 5-2 lead. But VCU would not go away and a minute later would score to bring the game within two once again. As the game continuted to get chippy the Bullets once again were on the powerplay and this time Sophomore Eddie Rupp fed Deyette who put in one of his own. Then again VCU showed determination and slipped another one past new freshman goaltender Pete Dawson. VCU was then awarded a 5 on 3 with a minute remaining in the period and still Gettysburg's perfect penalty killing held for the weekend and the Bullets got their third win of the season.

The Bullets recorded 59 shots on the night and new goaltenders McCarthy and Dawson held their own as McCarty stopped 16 shots and Dawson stopped 12. Gettysburg would like to thank everyone who made the trip to see their first two home opening games. The Bullets get a week's break now to focus on studies but come back at home on October 18 against Widener University.

Pictures coming soon to the Media Page