After a hard loss to Utah State University Friday night, the Cougars hit the ice Saturday with a renewed focus and energy making up for the previous game playing three solid periods and defeating Weber State 3-1.

The team's strategy going into the USU game was simply to execute, make the necessary passes and shots with precision and come out on top. After short mental breakdowns from individual players in the defense and the offense, the Cougars had a hard time getting back into the game.

"We lost focus briefly in the second period and let them go up," said Ed Gantt, head coach of the Cougars. "We gave them three goals."

Outshooting and outplaying the Aggies almost throughout the entire game, the Cougars played well. The Cougar's quality of overall shots was higher, according to Gantt. In preparing for the Weber State game Saturday night, the team looked to play the full 60 minutes with purpose and intensity.

"If we don't lose focus,. We come out with a win," Gantt said

Shaking off Friday night's loss, the Cougars regrouped and tightened their defense.

"Our team wanted it," said Doug Kimball, general manager for the Cougars. "We all played defensive and kept their shots down."

On Saturday night the players felt more comfortable on the ice after the three-week break for the holidays.

"Another day of being on the ice made me feel a lot better, like I was shaking off rust against Utah State," said Ben Shapiro, Cougar goalie. "I felt like I knew what I was doing tonight. We didn't have that mental lapse."

The players kept their head in the game against Weber State and didn't allow them to dominate the ice at any point during the game. The first period flew by with few penalties called and the first goal by Derek Battisti with only four minutes left in the first period. Weber State reacted quickly, scoring their first and only goal of the game. The second and third periods brought the second and third Cougar goals, respectively.

"We told the players to keep their eyes on the prize," said Gantt, "and they got it done."

Weber State is the first team that the Cougars have held to only one goal, Kimball said. Defeating a Division I team like Weber State after a tough loss to Utah State University is a huge confidence booster to the Cougars.

"We bounced back against a huge team," Gantt said. "If we can beat these guys we can beat anybody."

Copyright Brigham Young University 14 Jan 2008