CRUMLISH'S EFFORT IN VAIN FOR COC.

Byline: - Sean Ceglinsky

Matt Crumlish did everything he could, making 27 saves to keep his College of the Canyons men's hockey club teammates close throughout Friday's American Collegiate Hockey Association National Tournament second-round game.

However, the goalie's efforts came up short. Hope International scored on a power-play goal in the opening minutes of the first period and held on for a 1-0 victory over Canyons in a Division III game at Muskegon Community College in Michigan.

``He was all over the place,'' Canyons coach Jim Schrage said of Crumlish. ``He stopped everything for us. Stick saves, skate saves, glove saves. He did a great job.''

The same can be said for the rest of the team, which held its own against Hope International, outshooting the top-ranked team in the ACHA Central 35 to 28.

COC defeated the top-ranked team in the ACHA Northeast, Wagner College of Staten Island, N.Y., on Thursday and has been the talk of the tournament among coaches and scouts, Schrage said.

``It's been a really positive experience for us,'' Schrage said. ``It's satisfying that we've been able to play well against the supposed superior East Coast and Midwest teams. There's really not that much difference between us.''