Game Recap

PRPC away versus the Westerville Warcats
@ Chiller at Easton
Sunday, February 8, 2004

PRPC TIES WESTERVILLE AND WINS SERIES
After clinching the GCHSCHL title Saturday night (12/7/2004) against Athens, Sunday's match with Westerville had nothing on the line for PRPC other than to win the season series (2-1 PRPC) between these two rival teams. The Warcats, on the other hand, are still trying to secure second place and came into the game just 2 points up on the second place Northeast Storm (14-7-1, 29 points) who defeated Hilliard 10-0 just moments before.

This game had the same competitive atmosphere as the previous 3 matches between these two clubs. PRPC was playing short manned with Sophomore Jeff Laird out for the rest of the season (broken wrist), Senior Matt Macciomei (flu) and Sophomore Ben French scratches for the game. To add to that, Senior Captain T.J. Hess was assessed a game misconduct just 2:29 into the game. That didn't stop the Prowlers though, as Junior Bryan Kay scored an unassisted short handed goal on Hess's 5 minute major to give PRPC the game's first goal. Adam Sonnenberg then countered for Westerville with 6:38 of the period scoring on a rebound goal with Sophomore Jesse Betts caught out of position. Betts held on to stop 12 of 13 shots in the period for the Prowlers, while Morgan Rodgers kept the Prowlers at 1 goal for the period by stopping 8 of 9.

After a first period which saw a total of 12 penalties handed out, things calmed down a little bit in the second, but not by much. Special teams came into play again. Sean Hundley scored short handed for the Warcats at 9:05 of the period. Junior Anthony Kantor countered with a power play goal for the Prowlers (assisted by Freshman Brian Rossi and Junior Eric Willard) with 3:42 remaining in the period to tie the score up at 2-2. Kay then scored on an unassisted breakaway goal with just 1:22 remaining in the period to put the Prowlers ahead 3-2 going into the third period.

The third period saw play tighten up. The only penalties of the period came to Kantor, who recieved a game misconduct after recieving 5 penalties ina game with 9:30 remaining in the game which shortened the PRPC bench even more. Despite a solid effort by the Prowlers' bench in the third period, Tony Franco was able to connect for the Warcats with just 1:19 remaining in the game to tie things up at 3-3. The score would remain that way after the final buzzer which meant PRPC would win the series (2-1-1 PRPC), and Westerville would gain a point to keep their lead on the Storm. Both teams left knowing that there is a good possibility that these two clubs could see each other again in the later rounds of the playoffs.

PRPC will now round out the regular season on Senior Night against Hilliard/Southwest (1-16-2, 4 points) at 7:40 PM on Friday, February 13th at the CoreComm Ice Haus before beginning defense of their GCHSCHL "Blue Jackets Cup" (February 19th-22nd).