Pack ends exhibition season with a bang

Pack nets 2-1 win over Colorado College to finish exhibition slate 1-1.

By: Anthony Sandstrom, CSU-Pueblo Athletics

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. - In a three-period exhibition affair Friday, CSU-Pueblo showed a high level of growth in claiming a 2-1 win from Colorado College.

With the win, CSU-Pueblo ends its exhibition season with a 1-1 record.  

The ThunderWolves jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the first period on a goal by Jamie Prakhine (Fr., Arvada, Colo.).  After a third period goal by the Tigers knotted up the game at 1, a game-winner by Jonathan Hall (Fr., Anchorage, Alaska) on a feed from Connor Marcone (Fr., San Diego, Calif.) put the Pack up to stay.

The game was a great measuring stick for the very young ThunderWolf team as it looked to mesh as a unit despite its freshmen-rich makeup.  The 2010 Pack roster features 22 freshmen, 11 of which saw time Friday.  After the team's 3-2 exhibition loss to Otero Junior College Sunday, Friday served as an opportunity to dispose of the nerves and mesh as a unit, which was a great positive step, Pack coach Roy Stanley said.

"Our defense was much better organized and overall, we had a much better understanding of what we were doing offensively, as well," Stanley said.  "The guys worked their tails off and were supporting each other, and although we're still a little rusty, the difference between tonight and [Sunday vs. Otero] is huge."

The Pack will try to use the momentum from this win when it opens its regular season Sept. 4 vs. Cal State-San Bernardino in Phoenix, Ariz.