Viks Still Perfect at Home

November 19, 2007

By: Skip Berry – Director of Media Relations

The Portland State Vikings have yet to be defeated at home. The Viks are a perfect four for four at home after beating the Western Washington Vikings 6-2 on Friday night and 5-4 on Saturday night. The PSU Vikings are 6-2-0-1 (Wins, Loss, Ties, Overtime Loss) on the season and they now prepare for two games at Arizona State University on December 8th and 9th.

On Friday, the Vikings got a tremendous game from goalie J.J. York who had 27 saves in a two goal allowed night. Pat Markunas proved to be a real threat all weekend and in Friday’s game ‘Marker’ had two goals including the game winner. Both goals came in the first period (only 40 seconds apart) when Markunas fired a couple hard shots on goal and beat WWU goalie John Healy. PSU cruised their way to a 6-2 victory over WWU.

“I really had a jump in my step and should have had a few more,” said Markunas, who now has 5 goals and 5 assist after the weekend games. “Now, I have to find consistency in my play from game-to-game.”

Saturday night’s game was a tight and physical contest. PSU jumped out to a two goal lead and watched it evaporate in the first period as WWU came back with two back-to-back goals tying the game up before the end of the first period.

The second period watched both teams get a goal apiece, which kept it tied after two periods 3-3. PSU goalie Miles Wahrer had 11 saves in the second period, doing his part keeping the Viks in the game.

The third period started off with WWU getting a hat-trick goal from top line winger Jeff Bulger and WWU had their first and only lead of the game at 4-3. The period was full of hard battles in the corners where both teams worked hard to control the puck in the opposition’s zone. However, PSU tied things back up with 4:53 left when Capitan Alex Zsenyuk put a backhand shot past Healy.

As time was expiring with less than 30 seconds to go, PSU’s Zachary Johnson took an obvious holding penalty giving WWU a power play and a chance to win the game in regulation.

However, with 14.9 seconds left in the third period Ryan Ellis for PSU won a critical faceoff in his own end, which allowed Hunter Leavengood to skate up the ice on the rightwing boards firing a shot that would find the back of the net after Markunas followed up the shot with a hard hit on the goalie. The goal was scored with 3.6 seconds to go in the game and gave PSU a 5-4 victory as Wahrer finished the game with 33 saves for the Vikings.

“That faceoff by Ryan may have saved us a goal on our own net,” said head coach Lance Gilbert. “It is great that it generated a goal for us, however it was really Markunas who made things difficult for their goalie all night.”

The Portland State Vikings will have to get better at finishing their chances. This past weekend PSU had 48 scoring chances and only got 11 goals combined, something that Coach Gilbert is well aware of and plans to make that a focus as the Vikings get ready to travel down to Arizona to play the Sun Devils.

“We have to convert on our chances to have success against great teams like ASU and Oregon,” Said Gilbert.

If you would like more information about the Portland State University Vikings Hockey Club, advertising and sponsorship opportunities at our home venue, Mountain View Ice Arena, please contact BWL Media LLC at 971-409-7443 or by email: skipberry@psuvikingshockey.com