Nov 22, 2010 | cbarga | 1395 views
Athens Squirts Battle Newark Generals
The 2010-2011 Athens Squirts finally opened their hockey season. On Sunday, November 21, the Squirts traveled to Newark to take on the Generals for two games. The first game was against the Newark Major team which was made up of second year Squirts. Athens countered with 3 skaters playing their first competitive hockey game, Jaden Patterson, Caleb Workman and Kade Lightner, and 2 skaters seeing their first Squirt action, Henry Welsh and Jackson Kohn.
The game was nip and tuck the whole way. The first period ended with the score tied at 1. The scoring action picked up in the second period with each team getting 2 goals for a 3-3 tie. In the third period Newark struck first to take a 4-3 lead. However, with 4:30 minutes to go, Max Cook put in a rebound to tie the score at 4-4. It looked like the game was going to end in a tie, but Newark was able to sneak a shot past Goalie Anthony Koping with 1:30 left in the game. The last 90 seconds the Squirts attacked the Newark goalie with all they could but could not get the tying goal. In the end, Newark prevailed with a hard fought 5-4 win. The Squirts were led by Chase Sammons with 3 goals and Anthony Koping with 23 saves out of 28 shots. Jackson Kohn and Gwyneth Philips each recorded an assist in the game.
The second game was against the Newark Minor team which was made up of first year Squirts. Athens countered with veteran Teagan Ries in goal. Teagan showed her veteran leadership by not allowing a Newark goal in the first period. However, the Newark goalie was equal to the task, stopping all 11 shots in the first period. The period ended with the score tied at 0. The second period was a different story for Athens. In a span of 3 minutes, Chase Sammons found the net for 3 goals. Teagan Ries continued her perfect game with another scoreless period. At the end of the second period, Athens led 3-0. In the third period, Athens called off the dogs and were content to play smothering defense. Athens got another goal in the third period and Teagan closed the game out with another goose egg for Newark. Final Score, Athens 4 and Newark 0. The Squirts 1st win and a shutout. In the second game, veterans Nicholas Barga, Evan Adams, Max Cook, Chase Sammons and Dominic Norris bombarded the Newark goalie with 31 shots. If not for some excellent goaltending, the score would have been much worse, with many shots banging off the goalies pads or the posts.
The Squirts finished the day with 1 win and 1 loss. I do not think the Squirts had a shutout at all last season. Even though this was only the first action of the season, it was evident to all in attendance that the Squirts are much improved on offense and defense from last year. Finn Mitchell, as usual, was flying around the ice like a madman, making life miserable for Newark. Gwyneth Philips, making her return to Athens Hockey, was a rock on defense. Her experience with the CAHA travel team will no doubt add to the veteran leadership already on this team and help bring a lot more victories to the Squirts.
Up next, the West Virginia Wild on Sunday, November 28. Bring them on!!