Raiders Sail South
Shippensburg heads to SECRHL for interregional play
ECRHA February 15th, 2006 at 6:00AM February 15th, 2006 9:54PM
With the 2005-2006 regular season complete, and a playoff bid secured,
the Shippensburg University Red Raiders will be taking their team on
the road this weekend to Savannah, GA in a visit to the SECRHL for the
first inter-regional play in the club?s history. A long road awaits the
Red Raiders; after a quick breakfast at Reisner Dining Hall, the team
will fuel and pack their cars before beginning their 700 mile trek into
warmer weather, a welcome change of scenery to the winter wonderland of
the Northeast United States.
With their first game not until 7:15pm Saturday evening, the Red Raiders will have plenty of time to rest up from their journey, stretch their legs and scout some of their weekend opponents. They get their first chance at 2:00pm, when the Emory University Eagles and the University of Miami Hurricanes face off in a match-up of two of the top teams in the SECRHL. Later that evening, after a team dinner and one last chance to catch up on lost sleep, the puck will be dropped as the #16 Shippensburg Red Raiders take on the #6 Emory Eagles. Shippensburg should expect an extremely tough game as Emory has some huge Division I wins on their resume, including Florida (#6) and South Florida (#8). Of course, Shippensburg has an impressive resume of their own, beating Hofstra University (defending ECRHA Division II Champion), tying Neumann College (3-time National Runner-up) and manhandling the Division I Pittsburgh Panthers on their home rink. With such talented teams on the floor, this is easily one of the most anticipated games of the weekend.
Just a few hours later, at 10:30pm, the Raiders will take on the University of South Carolina Gamecocks. Despite a mediocre overall record at 7-8-1, the Gamecocks have big wins over Western Carolina (7-3) and Georgia State (14-4). As such, this is not a game that Ship can afford to take lightly. The Raiders won?t have much time to waste; perhaps a short team meeting or quick snack, as a tough game awaits them early Sunday morning. At 7:00am, the Raiders will play their third game in 12 hours. Although a long day waits, it will be doubly important to keep their focus as they take on Division I's #17 team, and last year?s National Runner Up, the University of Central Florida Golden Knights. Despite having just a handful of players from last year?s team, the Golden Knights still possess a potent lineup and will serve as an excellent early-morning opponent. Shippensburg will not be given much rest, however, as their fourth and final game of the weekend sneaks up on them at 10:15am against the University of Miami Hurricanes. You would be hard pressed to find two schools from such different locations. Miami is a major US city home to multiple professional sports franchises and famed South Beach, and a popular tourist destination for its warm weather and tropical beaches. Shippensburg, meanwhile, is a small community located in south-central Pennsylvania perhaps best known for being the 27th ?best small town in America?. Despite geographic differences, this game will pit the #16 Red Raiders against the #15 Hurricanes in what should be the most well-balanced game of the weekend.
When all is said and done, this weekend?s trip to Georgia to visit their hockey brethren is less about wins and losses as it is about banding together as a team and mentally preparing themselves for the Regional tournament (March 4-6 in Feasterville, PA) and, hopefully, a bid to the National Championship Tournament (April 5-12 in Raleigh, NC). After saying their goodbyes to the weekend hosts, the Red Raiders will once again hop in their cars for their long journey back to Pennsylvania and their own, comfortable beds.
With their first game not until 7:15pm Saturday evening, the Red Raiders will have plenty of time to rest up from their journey, stretch their legs and scout some of their weekend opponents. They get their first chance at 2:00pm, when the Emory University Eagles and the University of Miami Hurricanes face off in a match-up of two of the top teams in the SECRHL. Later that evening, after a team dinner and one last chance to catch up on lost sleep, the puck will be dropped as the #16 Shippensburg Red Raiders take on the #6 Emory Eagles. Shippensburg should expect an extremely tough game as Emory has some huge Division I wins on their resume, including Florida (#6) and South Florida (#8). Of course, Shippensburg has an impressive resume of their own, beating Hofstra University (defending ECRHA Division II Champion), tying Neumann College (3-time National Runner-up) and manhandling the Division I Pittsburgh Panthers on their home rink. With such talented teams on the floor, this is easily one of the most anticipated games of the weekend.
Just a few hours later, at 10:30pm, the Raiders will take on the University of South Carolina Gamecocks. Despite a mediocre overall record at 7-8-1, the Gamecocks have big wins over Western Carolina (7-3) and Georgia State (14-4). As such, this is not a game that Ship can afford to take lightly. The Raiders won?t have much time to waste; perhaps a short team meeting or quick snack, as a tough game awaits them early Sunday morning. At 7:00am, the Raiders will play their third game in 12 hours. Although a long day waits, it will be doubly important to keep their focus as they take on Division I's #17 team, and last year?s National Runner Up, the University of Central Florida Golden Knights. Despite having just a handful of players from last year?s team, the Golden Knights still possess a potent lineup and will serve as an excellent early-morning opponent. Shippensburg will not be given much rest, however, as their fourth and final game of the weekend sneaks up on them at 10:15am against the University of Miami Hurricanes. You would be hard pressed to find two schools from such different locations. Miami is a major US city home to multiple professional sports franchises and famed South Beach, and a popular tourist destination for its warm weather and tropical beaches. Shippensburg, meanwhile, is a small community located in south-central Pennsylvania perhaps best known for being the 27th ?best small town in America?. Despite geographic differences, this game will pit the #16 Red Raiders against the #15 Hurricanes in what should be the most well-balanced game of the weekend.
When all is said and done, this weekend?s trip to Georgia to visit their hockey brethren is less about wins and losses as it is about banding together as a team and mentally preparing themselves for the Regional tournament (March 4-6 in Feasterville, PA) and, hopefully, a bid to the National Championship Tournament (April 5-12 in Raleigh, NC). After saying their goodbyes to the weekend hosts, the Red Raiders will once again hop in their cars for their long journey back to Pennsylvania and their own, comfortable beds.