Hockey team swept by Life University

In what assistant coach and general manager Alex Kyrias estimates is the first time in four years, the IU hockey team was swept at home this weekend by Life University. The Running Eagles defeated the Hoosiers 7-3 Friday and 5-1 Saturday.\nDespite the team being short several key players, IU's (7-4, 6-0 Midwest Collegiate Hockey League) coaching staff was disappointed with the team's performance this weekend.\n"The weekend was a combination of them being better than us and our guys not giving everything they had," Kyrias said. "That combination spells four-goal victories."\nThe Hoosiers showed signs of life early Friday, as they battled Life to a 3-3 tie entering the third period. But everything fell apart as Life scored four goals in the last 14 minutes.\n"Friday night was really demoralizing," Kyrias said.\nFreshman defenseman Justin Peck led IU scorers Friday with two goals. Six other Hoosiers had one point each.\nIn the net, senior goalie Justin Wojtowicz allowed seven goals on 43 shots. Wojtowicz had only faced 34 total shots in his two previous shutouts. His record fell to 2-1 this season.\nThe Hoosiers were forced to play Friday without junior forward and captain Dan Hauck, who sustained an injury in the Hoosiers' Nov. 11 contest at Central Michigan University. The team also had to battle without two of its top defensemen, senior Josh Becktell and junior Tim McMahon, who were out Friday.\nTo add insult to injury, Hoosier freshman defenseman Mike Piotrowski was disqualified from the contest just 50 seconds into the second period for spearing. Under NCAA rules, Piotrowski was automatically disqualified for Saturday's contest.\n"I guess I was a little disappointed in the way we played team defense," coach Rich Holdeman said. "But we cannot play that lax defensively and expect to compete."\nIU was nearly helpless against Life's assault on goalie senior Chad Whitlock Saturday. Life pounded Whitlock for 60 consecutive minutes and skated to an easy 5-1 victory.\n"We didn't play very well," Hauck said. "I don't think we were ready mentally, and I don't think we came out to play."\nThe sole offensive spark for the Hoosiers came 45 seconds into the third period as Hauck hammered a shot past Life goalie Eric Legault. \nWhitlock allowed five goals and made 50 saves. His save percentage rose to 89.6 percent for the season, but his season record fell to 2-1.\n"We came out in the third period and played with some intensity," Holdeman said. "The problem was lacking that killer attitude until we had actually scored a goal"