Game Recap

PRPC home versus the Olentangy Braves
@ CoreComm Ice Haus
Sunday, December 14, 2003

Sunday night the Prowlers took on the second place Olentangy Braves (8-3) in a battle for first place. Olentangy came into the game just 2 points behind the first place Prowlers, but with one more game played on the season. After Sunday's tight game with Newark fresh in their minds, PRPC knew they had to come ready to play.

PRPC struck first on a goal by T.J. Hess (assisted by Bryan Kay) with just under 6 minutes remaining in the period. Kay would then connect again with the Prowlers short handed and just over two minutes left in the period. It looked as if the dynamic duo of Hess and Kay would be enough to carry the Prowlers on to victory as Sophomore goaltender Jesse Betts stopped 5 of 5 shots in the period.

Hess scored again (assisted by Kay) on a beautiful tic-tac-toe power play goal just seconds into the second period to give the Prowlers a 3 goal lead. But, the second period brought a challenge for the Prowlers in the form of number 2, Todd Rudasil. Rudasil scored two quick goals for the Braves under a minute apart to pull his team within one. Time and again, he would turn the flashy moves on a short manned PRPC defense (Senior Alternate Captain Josh Martyn [concussion] and Freshman Brian Rossi [flu] were both scratches for PRPC). And with 5 minutes left in the game, his hard work would garner a goal for teammate Cody Cramer to tie the score at 3-3.

Jesse Betts and the PRPC team then turned it on with 10 minutes remaining in the game. Junior Alternate Captain Mike Miller and Sophomore Nick Miller picked up the physical game, while the PRPC defense clamped down allowing only 2 more shots on goal in the period. Kay found the back of the net on Brave's goaltender John Snyder with 7 minutes left to give PRPC what would be the final lead of the game (4-3). Betts held on for his 6th victory of the season, and the Prowlers rode their leading scorers Kay (2G, 2A) and Hess (2G, 1A) on to another victory and a 4 point cushion in the standings.

PRPC has just one final game before the New Year. On Sunday, December 21st they make their first trip to Newark to face the Generals at 7:10 PM at the Newark Municipal Ice Rink. They are then off until January 4th, 7:30 PM versus Hilliard/Southwest at the CoreComm Ice Haus.