Game Recap

Ice Prowlers away versus the Hilliard/Southwest Wildcats
@ the Chiller in Dublin
Friday, December 9th, 2005

PROWLERS DROP GAME TO WILDCATS, TIE SEASON SERIES

Coming off their first back-to-back wins of the season where they had outscored their opponents 18-0, the Prowlers were looking to continue their momentum and try and take the season series against an improved Hilliard team. The Wildcats sat just one point behind the Prowlers in the standings going into this game and were looking to even the season series in the final of four meetings, while leapfrogging the Prowlers in the standings. The Prowlers had dropped the series opener 4-2 (11/04/2005) before winning the next two 6-3 (11/13/2005) and 5-0 (11/20/2005) to take a 2-1 series lead.

It looked as though the Prowlers would continue the momentum they created in their past two games when junior defenseman Cody Berkebile rushed the puck and setup junior Nick Hess with a perfect pass that Hess tipped in for the first goal of the game just 46 seconds into the game (assisted by Berkebile). But then, with senior alternate captain Jeff Laird in the box for holding, the Wildcats would counter with a power play goal by Tim Hahn at 9:07 to even the score at 1-1 and ending Lohrman's shutout streak of 108 minutes without a goal against. The Prowlers appeared to score to take back the lead just over a minute later, but the official declared that freshman Brad Noskowiak was in the crease and disallowed the goal, despite the fact that he had been pushed from behind into the crease and was laying face down on the ice when the goal was scored. The Wildcat's Zach Wilburn would take advantage of the score still being tied and added another Wildcat goal before the end of the period to give Hilliard a 2-1 lead after one period.

Withe Berkebile off for hooking early in the second, Chase Newcome took advantage and netted the Wildcat's second power play goal of the night raising the Hilliard lead to 3-1. The Wildcats would finish the night 2 for 5 on the power play, while the Prowlers were unable to convert on the only power play opportunity that they had in this match. Junior Geoff Killian would get the Prowlers back within one goal when he beat goaltender Matt Bridger on the doorstep (assisted by sophomore Zach Wiard), but it was Bridger who would steal the show through the rest of the period. Bridger came up solid on another shot just seconds later, then made a spectacular glove save on a pass out from behind the net and a point blank shot with minutes remaining in the period to keep his team in the lead 3-2 after two periods.

The Prowlers were finally able to beat Bridger with 8:51 remaining in regulation when junior Max Matsanoff beat the goaltender on a rebound shot (assisted by sophomore Luke Wilkins and Berkebile), but it would be the Prowler's last of the night as Bridger would go on to stop 37 of the Prowlers 40 shots in the game. Just after the goal, with the momentum swinging the Prowlers direction, freshman Adam McGrath took a costly 10 minute misconduct penalty which took away one of the Prowler's best players this night. The Wildcats took the lead with 5:11 remaining when Lohrman misjudged a Wilburn shot and the mistake turned into a 4-3 Wildcat win and a tied season series.

The Prowlers will hopefully be able to rebound from the loss when they face the Northeast Storm for the second straight Sunday. The Prowlers return to their home whites after a 4 game road trip when the puck drops at 4:10 PM on Sunday (12/11/2005) at the Chiller at Easton.