January 18, 2007 @ St. Louis Park RC 7:00

A bizarre goal by Isaac Kohls in overtime left Benilde-St. Margaret's stunned in disbelief and Hill-Murray ecstatic after completing a two goal comeback against their Catholic rivals. Kohls split two defenders on his way to Bo Dolan's long clearing flip, was hauled down but managed to tip the puck past goalie Mike Shibrowski while careening into him. That ended what had been a fast-paced game with many offensive chances for both teams.

Shibrowski seemed unfazed by another Kohls shot that stung him briefly early in the game, keeping Hill-Murray off the scoreboard despite several good chances. Joe Phillippi equaled him on the other end during extended pressure in the first six minutes. The frantic period ended scoreless just as Dan Sova's blast whistled wide.

Adam Estoclet gave the Red Knights the lead 15 seconds into the second period. He cut to the net from the left side and was checked but shifted the puck to his forehand as he reached the net and managed to slide it just inside the far post.

Bryan Glynn made it 2-0 at 5:44, entering the zone and wristing a shot from the top of the right circle that got through Phillippi.

The Pioneers finally solved Shibrowski midway through the game, after some good forechecking behind the net by Andy Singerhouse and Dan Cecka. Cecka sent the puck back to the right point for Logan Nugent, whose slapshot went right into the far side of the net.

Other that a Red Knight power play, Hill-Murray had most of the scoring chances the rest of the period, missing twice on breakaways. Cecka came closest to tying the game when he blasted a shot that trickled through Shibrowski's pads but was rescued inches from the goal line by an alert defenseman.

Benilde almost extended their lead in the first few minutes of the third period, missing the net on a shorthanded breakaway and later hitting the crossbar.

Hill-Murray finally tied the game on their fifth power play. Nick Larson gathered the puck in the left circle, had his initial shot blocked but regained the puck and fired it over Shibrowski's glove.

Moments later, Ryan Furne's one-timer clanged off the goalpost. On the other end, Phillippi made two great saves from close range and covered the puck amidst a mass of sticks and bodies. Then Tyler Zepeda turned a bouncing puck at center ice into a breakaway, but Shibrowski made a pad save.

The frantic pace finally slowed a bit in the second half of the third period, as both teams struggled to control bouncing pucks. Larson and Estoclet had open shots in the slot in the final two minutes of regulation, but were once again stymied by the goalies.

It took another bouncing puck that went Hill-Murray's way to give Kohls the winning goal and Hill-Murray a hard-fought win.

Copyright 1999-2024 hmpioneers.net

.