He also had a right, as did all players and coaches involved, to be upset with the referee's inconsistent calls. While the referee managed to call some touch fouls or legal tackles, he ignored some blatant shoves and takedowns on both sides. The referee called 41 fouls in the game. This number is nothing in comparison to the fouls the referee missed or decided not to call. As the game moved into the second half and overtime periods, play became increasingly rough and more intentionally rough.
Confrontations spread and grew more heated.
Finally, in the second overtime, both teams nearly rumbled after a UNH player inadvertently knocked down the Hawks' goalkeeper. The game was then completely out of the referee's control. But it was the referee's own fault. He allowed the game to become more violent. He failed to call intentional fouls, unintentional fouls, any big fouls at all.