I can't remember specifically who. I just remember making the argument that between the nearly undefeated season and the last D-III year, the Tigers' regular season and post-season results got a notch worse each season. The response from a few on here was about how much the up-and-coming ECAC-W teams like Manhattanville and Hobart had stepped up their recruiting. My response then (as it is now) was that that isn't an excuse. If there hadn't been a multi-year trend of declining results, I would have dismissed that horrible finish to 2005 as a mental let down. But it was merely a continuation of what had already been happening for a few sesons prior.
Coincidentally, the Lady Tigers' awesome victory last weekend for the NC on Ritter ice and the highlights of the celebration I saw on the news saddenned me as it pointed out how I will never get to experience such a moment with the men's team on Ritter (or Polisseni for that matter) ice. I was too young to be around for the NC's in the 80's (not that those were at home, but still...). They came close against UWSP and Plattsburgh in NC games at Ritter, but no cigar. Obviously, there won't be any D-I NC's played here. The closest we'll come is the AHA's at BCA. It was a shame that that 04-05 team collapsed. They gave me the impression, especially after they're weekend out at St. Norbert's, that they were going to be a serious contender. As it was for the Women in 2012, it would have been a much more memorable exit from D-III to compete for (and hopefully win) a championship than to blow a 2 goal lead on 4 minutes of power play with just over 4 minutes left leading to the OT loss to the Tigers' arch-nemesis. Oh well. It is what it is. At least we've got the 2010 Albany experience (and potentially others in the future) to enjoy and remember for years to come. But National Championships? That's a discussion for generations to come as it isn't a realistic goal anytime soon.
