Game Recap

Ice Prowlers away versus the Olentangy Braves
@ the Chiller North
Friday, January 6th, 2006

PROWLERS START THE NEW YEAR OFF WITH A WIN

The Prowlers had 19 days to think about their last loss. It was just before the holiday break when the Olentangy Braves humiliated them 4-1 in a home game at the Chiller at Easton (12/18/2005). The good news for the Prowlers was that there is always another day, it's just that this loss seemed to stick around for a while with the break. Fortunately, the Braves were their next opponent when the schedule reopened after the holiday break. An immediate chance for redemption.

The Braves got on the board first in this game when Nick Tagliaferro pounded a rebound past junior goaltender Justin Lohrman just over four minutes into the game. It came after the Prowlers dominated the first few minutes of the game, and it set a tone for the game that the Braves were here to win.

The Prowlers did not flinch though and took advantage of a 5-on-3 power play, converting twice with the man advantage. The first goal was one of opportunity for senior alternate captain Taylor Walcutt. The Prowlers were moving the puck around the perimeter when junior alternate captain Brian Rossi took a shot from the point that deflected off of Walcutt's chest and into the net to get the Prowlers on the board at 9:16 (assisted by Rossi and junior Nick Hess). They then converted on the subsequent 5-on-4 when freshman Brad Noskowiak beat Brave's goaltender Sean Wallace to give his team the lead 2-1 (assisted by senior captain Ben French and sophomore Luke Wilkins).

The Braves did not give up after the two power play goals as they scored two quick goals of their own just 25 seconds apart, both off of the stick of Goran Babic, with just over three minutes remaining in the period. That put the score back at 3-2 in the Braves favor after one period of play.

The second period was pretty steady back and forth play for the first half. It appeared that the Prowlers were up against a wall when Wallace turned away several attempts in a row with 7:30 remaining in the period, but then on the very next faceoff freshman Adam McGrath won the draw cleanly and pushed the puck forward to a breaking Walcutt who put the puck past Wallace to even the score at three (assisted by McGrath and Hess). The Prowlers took the lead just one minute later when French put home a rebound on the power play (assisted by Noskowiak and Wilkins). The Prowler power play would end up a perfect 3-for-3 on the night as the Braves were able to stay out of the box the rest of the game despite their physical style of play.

Olentangy found themselves on a 5-on-3 power play with just under three minutes to play in the period and capitalized when Brandon Urhammer beat Lohrman with the two man advantage to tie the game up at 4-4 going into the third period.

The Prowlers then jumped on top for good just seven seconds into the third when McGrath converted a breakaway to give his team the 5-4 lead that they would not relinquish. Lohrman stopped all seven shots in the final period to hold on for the Prowler victory. The team's penalty killers were solid all game as they kept the Braves 1-for-6 with the man advantage, and allowing their only power play goal against while at a 5-on-3 disadvantage.

Now the team has the task of facing the still undefeated, league leading Athens Bobcats. The season series is currently in the Bobcats favor at 0-1-1 with both of the first two games being played at the Ohio University Bird Arena in Athens (a 3-3 tie (11/11/2005) and a tough 2-1 loss (12/02/2005)). The Prowlers will look to try and take the first of their two home games against the Bobcats this Sunday (1/8/2005) at 5:40PM at the Chiller at Easton.