March 8, 2007 @ Xcel Energy Center 1:30

After a season filled with overtime wins and protecting narrow leads in big games, Hill-Murray couldn't quite do it again, their championship hopes dashed by four Joe Faupel goals and a team that wouldn't go away. Faupel tied the game twice in the third period and was left wide open between the faceoff circles to one-time a feed from the left corner which ended the game at 3:20 of overtime. Linemate Garrett Grimstad had five assists for Century; Dan Cecka scored twice and added an assist for Hill-Murray.

Century started well, not allowing Hill-Murray much offensive flow in the first period. They also made the most of their five shots, getting goals Colin Briscoe and Joe Knoepke to take a 2-0 lead. But two equally quick goals by Hill-Murray evened the score. Bo Dolan had his shot blocked but retrieved the puck and circled all the way around the offensive zone before blasting a long shot through a screen. Then Cecka pounced on a loose puck in the crease that squirted off goaltender Kraig Ewing after an Isaac Kohls shot on a power play.

Hill-Murray carried their momentum into the start of the second period, taking the lead 11 seconds in when Tyler Zepeda fed Nick Larson coming down the slot and Larson's low shot beat Ewing who had overcommitted on the crossing pass.

Midway through the period, Cecka got off a shot from between the circles and Westerhaus slid in a rebound to put the Pioneers up 4-2. At that point, the Pioneers were rolling, and Faupel's only mention on the stat sheet was a single assist. But after a power play with five minutes remaining in the period, Century kept the puck in the offensive zone and eventually threw it at the net, where Faupel tipped it in for his first goal.

Still, Hill-Murray had a lead and a power play to start the third period. At the end of that power play, Grimstad cleared the zone and drove to the Hill-Murray net. Joe Phillippi stopped the initial shot, but Faupel had exited the box, trailed the play, jammed in a rebound and the game was tied.

Hill-Murray appeared to have regained the lead as Andy Singerhouse set up Kohls on the edge of the crease for what looked to be an open net, but Ewing somehow got his stick in the way. Later, Cecka was more successful from a similar spot on the other side of the crease, getting to his feet and tapping in a loose puck after starting the play with a long slap shot off the goalpost.

With a 5-4 lead and 4:50 to play, the Pioneers appeared to have the game in hand again. But nothing is certain in high school hockey, and just over a minute later Faupel redirected a centering pass at the top of the crease to finish a 3-on-2 rush with Grimstad and Bryan Frischmann.

Century had a full power play early in overtime and managed just one shot. However, they took advantage of an offensive zone faceoff right after that, controlling the puck and setting up Faupel for his final heroics.

Copyright 1999-2024 hmpioneers.net

.