Defeating a team three times in one season has always proved difficult in the sporting world, and unfortunately the men's hockey team discovered this the hard way, as it was shocked by visiting Salve Regina in the quarterfinals of the ECAC Northeast tournament last night. A fluke goal by Salve's Chris Pisani 1:32 into the overtime period ended the contest with the final 6-5, as the Jumbos, who dominated the entire game, were left in utter disbelief.

While the game was played almost entirely in Tufts' offensive end, where a staggering 65 shots were taken, Salve Regina's goalkeeper sophomore Chris Burns proved to be a wall, recording 60 saves on the night. Backed by Burns' stoic play and a lot of luck, the Seahawks were able to subdue the Jumbos attack, and capitalized on nearly all of their scoring chances in a game that ended Tufts season.

"Any time you take 60 shots and don't win, that really says something about the other team," coach Brian Murphy said. "If you asked people before this game if we were going to lose, most people would say no, but that's why you play the game."

The game began auspiciously for Tufts, as senior tri-captain Natan Obed took a soft shot, which somehow glided in between the goalkeeper's knees, giving the Jumbos a 1-0 advantage. The Seahawks responded less than three minutes later, though, with a goal by Ryan Park deadlocking the game at one goal apiece.

As the period progressed, the Jumbos continued to dominate, firing off shot after shot, and finally scoring on a three-on-two fast break. Junior Jason Boudrow gave senior Justin Picone a perfect feed, which he whizzed by Burns' glove. Boudrow followed up with a goal of his own with 42 seconds remaining in the period.

Heading into the locker room, the Jumbos seemed to be in control of the game, as they out-shot their opponent 17-5 in the first frame. The Seahawks persisted though, and showed a few signs of life, as Billy Breaker scored a quick goal on a fast break, only 1:14 into the second period. Despite taking 29 shots in the second period, the Jumbos were unable to convert, continually coming up just short. With less than five minutes to go in the period, the Jumbos were dealt another serious blow, as the team's top-scorer, Boudrow, was hit hard and did a complete flip in the air, before landing hard on the ice and separating his shoulder.

"Jason got really nicked up," Murphy said. "He separated his shoulder, but was able to continue to play a little bit. We were trying to rest him, but the game kind of dictated that we play him. He was far from 100 percent, but it's part of the game. You deal with it the best you can."

In the third period, sophomore Rob LaQuaglia scored 22 seconds into the frame, but Salve responded with three unanswered goals, taking the lead for the first time all night, 5-4. Boudrow, despite the separated shoulder, was able to even up the game 5-5 at 8:43. Obed, who assisted his line-mate, recorded his 100th point of his Tufts career on the play.

The period ended with the score locked at five, bringing on a sudden death overtime period, where the entire season was on the line for both teams. Entering overtime, Tufts had out-shot its opponent 64-30, but, as the Jumbos would soon learn, scoring chances alone do not win games. Only 1:32 into the final frame, a deflected shot allowed Pisani to catch freshman goalkeeper Ben Crapser out of position, and he snuck the puck into the left side of the goal.

"Anytime when you are in that type of situation, you can lose the game," Murphy said. "We could have played better defensively. They are a good team. They had a few guys who can score and a very good goalie."

The loss was stunning as the number eight seed ousted the top seed in the tournament, putting an end to the year that no one would have predicted. After going 15-1-1 in conference play during the regular season, expectations were sky-high entering the tournament. While the loss was devastating, perhaps nightmarish, the 2000-01 hockey season will not only be remembered for what could have been, but will also be looked at as one of the most successful in the history of the program.

"I'm real proud of us and what we've done this year," Murphy said. "It's not easy to come into these different rinks and these different situations and continue to win. And to win 17 games is really something that they should be proud of. To finish first in the [ECAC] Northeast... I think later on we will be able to appreciate that more."

In their final season in the somewhat weak ECAC Northeast conference, the Jumbos will take a huge leap competitively next season, as they join the ultra-competitive NESCAC. Despite the graduation of a handful of the team leaders, they will attempt to regain the form that propelled them to a 17-5-1 overall record this season.

"We expect to continue to win," Murphy said. "These guys represent the university very well, and it's disappointing to lose this year, but we will be ready to go next year, and we'll be able to put a competitive team on the ice."