The Santa Rosa Junior College hockey team fell 6-0 to UC Santa Cruz on Oct. 11 at Snoopy’s Home Ice, but players agreed the team showed noticeable progress in tightening defensive play and communication.
UC Santa Cruz scored once in the opening period and added two more in the second before sealing the win with three goals in the third. Despite the loss, the Polar Bears displayed improved structure, communication and effort in front of the net.
Goaltender Luc Caron faced relentless pressure throughout the night and made 25 saves in the third period alone. He credited his teammates for tightening up on defense and clearing rebounds.
“I made a lot of good saves, but you can’t make those saves without your defense supporting you on rebounds,” Caron said. “They made it a lot easier for me to absorb shots and not worry as much about the rebounds.”
Defenseman Owen Hamblin said the Polar Bears entered the game focused on ferocity and physical play after a tough start to the season.
“We were more intense and played harder than last time,” Hamblin said. “We were physical, connected passes and created offensive chances where we could. There is still a lot to work on, but seeing the improvement from last game to this game was great.”
Center Kai Krombholz, who came close to scoring in the second period, said the team’s defensive consistency remains key to future success.
“Playing a simple defensive structure in our own zone really matters,” Krombholz said. “We played fine in the neutral zone, but just getting pucks out, making simple plays and getting hard on the puck will make the difference.”
Forward Antonio Hernandez said the presence of SRJC’s cheerleaders and a supportive home crowd helped boost the team’s morale throughout the game.
“It was cool to see them,” Hernandez said. “It’s always good to have that support. Even though it’s a tough start to the season, it’s going to get better, and we appreciate all the fans.”
Hernandez also emphasized the importance of communication among teammates, especially in transition. “I need to learn to communicate better within the defensive zone before we break out,” he said. “That helps not only me but my teammates. As a group, we just need to go into practice ready to play and ready to get better.”
Defenseman Jon Christenson said the team remains focused on long-term growth following the matchup.
“As the season goes on, we will naturally get better as a unit,” Christenson said. “We will not call it a loss. It is a good learning experience.”
The Polar Bears have a week off before returning to action against Santa Clara University on Oct. 24 at Snoopy’s Home Ice.
