May. 12th, 2004 - Duluth/FSU Game Produces a Record Breaker, Quinn Breaks Tourney Single Game Point Record
Fenton, MO - It may have been a consolation bracket game. It may have been early in the morning. It may have meant nothing to most of the MDIA world. But no one told that to Florida State or Minnesota-Duluth.
The game started out slowly. The Seminoles, after surrendering the game's opening goal, quickly rebounded to build a steady four goal lead after a quarter of play. But this wouldn't be your ordinary consolation game. These teams were out to prove something. Senior Ben Uzlik explained how the teams could get fired up for consolation contest.
"Each game, whether you are in the consolation bracket or the winner's bracket-it doesn't matter. You are here to win," explained the Bloomington, MN native.
"We had a long talk. We talked about finishing with two victories after a loss to a BYU team that was better than we were," commented first year FSU Head Coach Bill Harkins.
"We wanted to build our program off those two victories."
Although the Tallahassee crew seemed solidly in control by halftime, with a three goal lead, the second half proved to make things interesting. Duluth erupted from the locker room with five straight goals in 3 minutes and 22 seconds to take the lead 10-9. But Seminoles battled back. The teams traded the lead, with the Noles taking a two goal lead into the final stanza.
The physical play escalated and so did the injuries. Both teams suffered injuries. But The Bulldogs seemed to take huge blow when senior middie and team leader Ben Uzlik injured his leg.
"My two biggest offensive initiators went down with injuries along with two of my man up players. I think we scored one or two goals after that. We are not deep enough as a team to lose Ben and the others," added Bulldog Head Coach Bob Graff after the game.
Those injuries enabled to the Noles to open up their lead, finishing with a 21-14 victory. But the Duluth explosion and unusually competitive consolation bracket game was only half the story. FSU attackman Shawn Quinn had a career contest. The sophomore from Orlando slowly put up impressive numbers and had accumulated eight points heading into the fourth quarter. The record, up until this year, was held by Texas A&M;'s Chris Pike (12 points vs. Arizona in 2002) and Simon Fraser's Curtis Hodgson (12 points vs. Minnesota-Duluth in 2001). Quinn tied the record on a goal with 8:52 left in the game and was substituted out for a period of time.
"We were all playing and having a good time. I didn't notice the record until the fourth quarter when someone came and told me that I have a chance to do it (break the record). I just came to win."
Quinn reentered the game and made history when I gathered the ball behind the net and pushed the left pipe, bull-dodged and place a hard and slow bounce shot in the top corner. Although Quinn ended the play with his face on the turf, he was still able to witness the goal.
"I did see it go in, it bounced high, but I had a good feeling about it."
Quinn added two more with the last one coming on a botched clear. Quinn picked up the ball just inside the restraining box and alertly fired it in to put a fitting finish on an incredible game. Quinn set the new tourney record with 14 points.
"We didn't win the first round, but we're going to win the next two games, that's all I want to do."