Coffman Rocks 3   Evanston Wildkits 6

Game Summary - Dublin Coffman vs. Evanston Wildkits, Saturday, January 19,2008 - Dublin Chiller

 

                                                                                                                                                            photo by Carol Anderson

1st Period
The Rocks came into game 2 after a heart breaking loss the night before , knowing they would need to play a perfect game to beat a heavily favored Evanston from Illinois. The first 5 minutes the Rocks come out hard, and the game is fast and physical again. Jimmy Wall is standing out early as he is devastating Wildkits all over the ice surface. Evanston turns up the pace on the Rocks and it pays off as a nifty 3 way passing play at the Rocks blue line leaves Kit Pigozzi with an easy tap in goal past Rocks net minder Alex Rogers, 1-0 Wildkits. The next several minutes the Rocks start turning the game in their own favor and create a man advantage after Ridgway is hauled down. The Rocks change their power play personnel and send Matt Zacharias to the front of the net, which creates all kinds of problems for the Evanston d-men, Rogers feeds Jimmy Wall at the point and Wall blasts a shot that goaltender, Kuykendall, just gets a piece of but Rogers pounces on the rebound and the Rocks tie the game at 1-1. Rocks were out shot by the Wildkits 7-6.

2nd Period
Coffman pours on the pressure in the opening minutes of the 2nd and just 1:30 in Anthony Rogers makes a great pass to Andy O'Brien and O'Brien undresses Kuykendall and the Rocks lead 2-1. The next several minutes the Rocks are running around all over the ice and that would cost them, Sam Bielawski, catches the Rocks flat footed at the Blue line, walks around the d-man and drills a shot past Rogers to tie the game at 2-2, half way thru the game. A minute and a half later the Wildkits catch the Rocks standing still in the neutral zone and Jacob Schaper goes around another Rocks d-man dekes Rogers and quickly the game swings to Evanston's favor, 3-2. The quick goals seems to deflate the Rocks and for the balance of the period its an Alex Rogers show, as he is lambasted with shots for 6 minutes, Rogers is almost inhuman with his efforts blanking any and all chances, the period ends almost not soon enough with the Wildkits leading 3-2. Rocks were out shot by the Wildkits 14-4.

3rd Period
After starting the 2nd with speed and heart the Rocks ended the period struggling to get back in the game. Jimmy Wall showed his heart by ruling the first shift of the 3rd, throwing some devastating hits and going end to end only to have Kuykendall rob Wall from tying the game. But a bad line change gives the Wildkits all they would need as Jake Bielawski gets a pass from Jason Ballinger and is off to the Races on a breakaway, Bielawski makes a superb move and beats Rogers upstairs, 4-2 Wildkits. The Rocks frustration shows in undisciplined penalties and the Wildkits get a power play again. Sam Bielawski's brother, Jake, and Andrew Nelson are working the puck well from corner to behind the net. Nelson is fed a great pass and his point blank shot is stopped, but a melee of players crashed the net freeing a loose puck for Sam Bielawski who tucks the puck top shelf, 5-2 Wildkits. The Rocks take 3 consecutive penalties with 3 minutes to play, but while killing the penalty Rocks forward Chris Ridgway puts in an outstanding effort stripping Pigozzi of the puck behind the net stepping in front and beating Kuykendall along the ice, 5-3 Wildkits with a minute to go. Alex Rogers who was strong all night, keeping the game reasonable, was than left to fend for himself with 5 seconds to go, Max Mershon wins a face-off deep in the Rocks end to Pigozzi who walks from the blue line untouched by any Rocks player and scores top shelf sending the Rocks out of the MLK Tournament, with a number of questions to answer after this game effort. Rocks were out shot by the Wildkits 15-4 in the 3rd and overall 36-14.

Rocks Highlights:
The Rocks are now a hockey team looking for answers, losing 3 straight for the first time this season. Passion, commitment and a will to win, with the drive to be the best they can be game in and game out, as they plan on their of run for the conference finals or state regional playdowns. The Rocks next see action Sunday January 20th, against Sycamore Aves, MLK tourney, at 5:10 pm, Dublin Chiller. 

                                                                                                       by Randy Zacharias