Sunday, 7 March 2010

 Oxford Ice Rink, Oxford - The game was as unprecedented as the outcome unexpected.

Eight days after a narrow 7-6 overtime victory in a sold-out Varsity Match, the Oxford Blues again played host to their perennial rivals in the BUIHA quarter-finals, the first time in their history that the teams have met in the playoffs.

In the end, the hotly anticipated rematch was a somewhat disappointing rout. Freed from the nerves that were so evident at during the Varsity Match, the home team played like the defending National Champions that they are as they dismantled the Tabs 8-1.

The victory was Oxford’s 9^th consecutive over the Light Blues, a streak running back to the Varsity Match in 2005.

Oxford came out fast, with William Bruce scoring the opening goal less than a sixty seconds into the game. By the twelfth minute, he was sitting on a natural hat-trick, and Oxford on a 3-1 lead. Cambridge never recovered, being outshot 51-22 for the game. Bruce would finish with four goals.

The game was notable in particular for Oxford’s sharp play in the defensive zone, with a strong performance by assistant captain Johannes Sjostrand, who was named man of the match. ‘That was our fewest goals against all season, due to a brilliant game from by the defencemen’ said goaltender Calum Nicholson. ‘They kept Cambridge’s forwards out of the scoring lanes, and the results show on the scoreboard. The Tabs had few decent opportunities.’

Although somewhat surprised, the Oxford squad were relieved at the outcome. ‘To have beaten the Tabs in the VM and then lose to them the next week! That would've been a hard pill to swallow’ said Captain Ruben Leavitt. ’I was surprised by how flat Cambridge came out - they didn't have the same spark or tenacity that they had for VM. I guess that's what you get with 700 less fans watching you’ he added.

With the win, Oxford advance to the BUIHA semi-final against the league-leading London Dragons, who they will play in London on Friday 12 March.

Calum TM Nicholson