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Show Tuesday, October 24,2006 THE DAILY UTAH CHRONICLE Hockey narrows the gap Natalie Dicou Jlw Daily Utah Chronicle All the U hockey club needed was a little proof that it could skate with the big boys, and captain Mike Wilcox and Co. got just that when they took their first lead of the season Saturday night at Weber State. An early goal by Wilcox put Utah up i-o before 30 seconds had ticked off the game clock. The Utes eventually succumbed to a 4-2 defeat to the Wildcats, but the close score was a victory in itself for the team which only three weeks ago lost to the very same Wildcat team 11-0, and which has been outscorcd 92-18 in its inaugural year back following a threeyear absence. Saturday's game came on the tail of a devastating 14-2 slaughter to the BYU IceCats in Provo Friday night. So how did the Utes rebound to play such a competitive game against a worthy opponent after being manhandled less than 24 hours earlier? "The kids are beginning to believe in themselves," said head coach Bob Wilkinson. And that belief stems back to Wilcox's early goal, which did more for the team's confidence than any Disney sports film-inspired pep talk ever could have. For the first time this season, the Utes had a one-goal cushion, which prompted Wilkinson to wonder, "How are we going to respond?" Instead of considering the early lead a fluke, the goal infused the Utes with confidence that they could play with a team that easily dispensed of them less than a See H O C K E Y Page 10 KIM I'KTKRSON'/YV AJJ/I- Ui.,h Chrowtt Ute hockey captain Mike Wilcox skates into the danger zone Oct. 6 against UVSC at Steiner Ice Rink. The Utes kept up with Weber State on Friday, but lost 4-2. rs for Your Life Your Style. Your Personality. «cirri* CAMPUS SUSTAINABILllY DAY this s&mfc ^ by S ^ w ^ ^ D OF U p\&m <m\m m w ^ ?? Wtet jHQA Dk'-cttot U«*(feay Ctertc |