All about the Numbers: WHAT THE HOCKEY GODS GIVETH, THEY TAKETH AWAY

SRJC’s Top 10 statistics of the 2015-16 season: No. 8- Goals for and against

There's no denying the fact that SRJC Hockey players look like absolute studs when scoring on the ice. Whether it's sweet spin-o-ramas in front of the net, dirty dangles around defenders or perfectly executed passes around the zone, the Polar Bears know how to put on a show. 

In the 2015-16 season SRJC scored 157 spectacular goals, which is 16 more than the team scored last season. That averages to 6.28 goals a game. ​

The team did not get shutout once by an opposing team, but were pretty close Nov. 6 against San Diego State University. The only thing that saved the Polar Bears from a big fat goose egg was a third period power play goal by Max Brownlee. That kid just seems to come up big when SRJC needs him. 

The Polar Bears did however get two shutouts on the year. The first was a 13-0 victory over San Francisco State University Dec. 11. Rookie goaltender Lachlan Irvine notched a 12 save win in his first start in an SRJC uniform.

The second was that bizarre Cal State Fullerton forfeit Jan. 16. SRJC was beating the Titans 6-0 after two when Fullerton decided it couldn't stand another 20 minutes of humilation.

SRJC's ability dazzle the fans and confuse enemy goalie might seem like its greatest strength on the ice, but it's really the capability to adjust and rework systems that aren't making the cut.

"We implemented a dump and chase system. It's helped us get into the offensive zone and stay there while also wearing down the opposing team with physical play," said sophomore forward and alternate captain David Lundgren about SRJC realizing the flaw in early games. "Before [earlier in the season] we were trying to be too fancy getting into the zone. We are playing a very finesse game so that style of play didn't work for us."

That dump and chase system really jumped into hyperdrive after the team's first loss to San Diego State. The next day SRJC came back with a huge 5-2 win over the Division II club. 

Before the Polar Bears implemented that style of play, the team only scored 68 goals to opponents' 44. After, SRJC netted 90 goals while giving up 42.

In total opponents managed to get 86 goals off SRJC goaltenders, which is nearly 30 more goals than they gave up last season. But to be fair the Polar Bears played five more games this year than in 2014-15.

There were eight teams in the ACHA's Pacific Region that allowed fewer than 87 goals with at least 20 games played. Most of those clubs ranked within the Top 20 teams, so SRJC fell rightly in the middle. 

It's always a good sign when your team's goals for total is greater than its goals against. Each year SRJC manages to nearly outscore opponents 2-1 and this season is no different. Any guess on what the Polar Bears' numbers will be next year?

Tune in Monday, March 7 to see what No. 7 is on SRJC’s Top 10 Statistics of the 2015-16 season