Cheerleader to hockey goalie overnight

Audie Sumaray/The Captain's Log

By Sam Thift and Cody Lloyd

Freshman Jacob Gio is a cheerleader at CNU, but on Friday, he was wearing a different uniform when he stepped onto the rink at the Hampton Roads IcePlex. In the game against Liberty DIII, Gio was in goal, a place that he had not been previously in the season.

As fans covered the glass surrounding the rink with signs of support for Gio, he helped them secure a 4-3 victory against the Liberty Flames. After winning their last home game against rivaled Old Dominion University, his teammates were happy with another win under their belt.

“We needed a win and we went out and got one,” said senior forward Jon Dalziel. “Jacob played great in his first game. We could not have asked for more from him. He definitely played a large part in the win.”

Playing for a championship-winning hockey team during his high school career, Gio spoke to members of the Ice Hockey team during the Homecoming Football tailgate about the possibility of stepping into the goal for a game. He began practicing with the team soon after.

Coach Tom Quigley believed starting the newest edition to the team was the right decision. He said, “the team showed great confidence in him during the initial practices. That is the main reason in starting him.”

After edging out Liberty in late September by a narrow margin of 6-5, the Captains wanted bragging rights once again with a solid victory.

Neither team allowed the other to capitalize at the beginning of the game, until an assist from freshman forward Byran Capranica to freshman defenseman Matt Scott put CNU in the lead in the last minute of the period.

Seven minutes into the second period senior forward Brian Bowser scored their next goal off an assist from Dalziel and senior defender Kevin Schreiber, sending the puck through a shield of players and wrapping it around Liberty’s goalie.

CNU scored two minutes later as junior forward Mark Dungan placed the puck between the goalies legs and in the back of the net. The cheers from CNU fans were hushed a minute later, when Liberty scored its first goal of the game.

However, the period ended on a high note when Bowser, unassisted, scored his second goal of the game. Liberty would get two shots past Gio to create a nail bitter at the end, but it was one loss that the Captains would hold off for the remainder of the game.

When the final buzzer screamed, Gio had officially won his first hockey game as a Captain. “It was incredible. By far one of the highlights of my year so far,” said Gio.

“He was a good goaltender and he showed us all that on Friday,” said Schreiber. “I think he has the opportunity to get a few more games the rest of the season, but Nick Thompson is our starter and he will get the majority of the games that are remaining.”

“Jacob played great in his first game. We could not have asked more from him,” said Dalziel. “He definitely played a large part in the win.”

Gio and the team were extremely happy with the outcome of the game. “We worked hard and battled, we had good shots and put pressure on their goalie,” said Gio about the game.

Although Gio is now on the hockey team, he will continue to wear two uniforms for CNU. As he cheers one team to victory, he hopes that his skills on the ice will help the hockey team continue to excel and succeed for the remainder of the season.

Posted by The Captain's Log on Nov 17 2010. Filed under Hockey, Sports. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. Both comments and pings are currently closed.