Squirts Split Road Trip
Submitted By ckennedy on Wednesday, November 25, 2009
The Athens Squirt team began Buckeye Travel Hockey League play this weekend by traveling to the Dayton area to take on the Troy Bruins and Dayton Bluehawks. The ‘Cats came out of the weekend with a .500 record in league play by squeaking out two games against Troy and giving the undefeated Dayton squad all they could handle but coming out on the short end.
At the crack of dawn on Saturday, the ‘Cats began their weekend prowl at Hobart Arena in Troy against a battling Bruin crew. In the first game, the early theme was defense. Each squad kept trying to get something going without any luck. In the second, the Bruins got the scoring going with three goals that appeared to leave the ‘Cats deflated. However, Chase Sammons led the Bobcat charge back with three quick goals of his own to tie things at three. Sammons scored again from a great pass from Nicholas Barga in the third for the game winner as the Bobcat defense tightened up to preserve the 4-3 victory. Helping Sammons with the scoring were Nicholas Barga with 2 assists, while Gehrett Kerns and Finn Mitchell added an assist a piece. Anthony Koping had 11 saves with several key saves down the stretch.
The second game proved to be even more of a defensive struggle. Once again, Troy got onto the board first. However, the ‘Cats answered when Finn Mitchell received an Eli Kennedy pass and took advantage of an opening and flipped the puck in for the game tying goal. The game remained tight for the rest of the second. In the third, Athens took the lead when Finn Mitchell found Nicholas Barga in front of the net for the game winning goal ,2-1. In both games, the Bobcat defensemen, Max Cook, Storm Walburn , Teagan Ries, Evan Adams, along with Mitchell were solid in the key times when the game was on the line. Koping excelled between the pipes with 4 saves on 5 shots on goal.
On Saturday afternoon, a weary Bobcat team drove down I-75 to Hara Arena to take on a tough Bluehawk squad with an undefeated record in the BTHL. The ‘Cats played tough in the first allowing just one goal late in the period. The ‘Cats broke into the scoring column in the second when Storm Walburn scored on a rebound from a Chase Sammons shot. However, Dayton countered with 2 goals in the second leaving the score 3-1. In the third, Athens’ tired legs were evident and Dayton stretched out the lead. However, the Bobcats kept battling by scoring two goals late in the third. Nick Lutz scored his first goal of the season on the double assist from Sammons and Walburn. Gehrett Kerns scored an unassisted goal on a shot that caught the Bluehawks off guard. In the end, the Hawks triumphed 9-3. Teagan Ries was strong in goal making 27 saves on 36 shots.
Early Sunday afternoon, the rested ‘Cats were ready to take on the Hawks once again. This contest proved to be a way closer contest. Athens started the scoring in the first when Chase Sammons scored with the help of a Rhys Westenbarger assist. However, Dayton took back the lead with two goals of their own late in the first and extended it in the second with three more goals. The ‘Cats mustered another goal in the second on a Chase Sammons unassisted goal. At the end of two, the Hawks led 5-2. The ‘Cats came roaring back in the third when the Athens defensemen (Finn Mitchell, Eli Kennedy, Evan Adams and Anthony Koping) stepped it up allowing just 5 shots in the third. Athens cut into the lead by adding another Sammons goal. Rhys Westenbarger added the final tally with a goal late with an assist from Sammons. Teagan Ries was stellar in goal making 24 saves on 29 shots.
Overall, the ‘Cats came out of the weekend with a positive feel that was evident by their hard working, never say die performance. The ‘Cats will spring back into action on December 5th when they play the Easton Rangers at the Chiller at 5:50 pm. Then, they are back at Bird on Sunday when they play a pair against Bloomington at 8:45 and 11:30.
Photo: Rhys Westenbarger looks for a pass from a teammate during Sunday's 5-4 game at Hara Arena.
