Landon hockey 6 DeMatha 5 in overtime

BearSportsNews has been covering Landon sports for 5 years. That’s roughly 250 contests. Some have been extremely exciting games. Tonight’s win over WaPo All Met Sports #5 team sets a new standard for incredible tenacity, talent and enthusiasm as the Bears won in sudden death overtime 6-5

What added to the remarkable nature of this contest was that the Bears were missing three important players. The drama was driven by Landon’s two comebacks and the pièce de résistance was their scoring the tying goal at 0:49.8.

While there were players who scored the goals, considerable credit is due to players adjusting to new line mates, the extra effort exerted by the 3 lines who played at the Ice Gardens (normally the rotation is 4 deep), the defenders pinching at the point and retreating expeditiously when warranted and a goalie standing stalwart. Things that are not recorded won this game: winning one v. one battles, blocking hard shots launched from the point, maintaining great position in front of the Stags’ goalie (a talent for which the sick Trevor Wolf is known), sprinting during transitions to support the O and to help the D (even when the skater was at the tail end of a shift), passing the puck well on breakouts and within the zone, etc. Those are the little things which contributed to this epic win.

The support which the Landon hockey team received from the fans in the stands. At the beginning of the 3rd period, the famous “Ms. Keep Shooting” arrived, increased the decibels, encouraged other to join her chorus and added to the thrill of victory.

 ——————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————

Both teams were on top of their skates early in the first period, and the home team registered two goals, 1^st at 7:47 and then at 7:12 (an incredible shot from the point which caught the corner of the Landon goals). Ordinarily two quick goals can dispirit the opponents; the Bears did not cave in.

DM was called for a penalty at 4:39 and just before the man advantage expired, @ 2:43, Jones Lindner fed Drennan Greene who sent it to Ben Gilbert for a slap shot goal.

AT THE END OF THE 1^ST PERIOD –BEARS 1/ STAGS 2

LSoG 16 DMSoG 8

Landon beat a DM powerplay and soon thereafter Ben returned the favor of the pervious assist from Drennan by passing the puck to #18, who tied it up @ 12:46. The Stags regained the lead and added to it with a powerplay goal at 8:19 and another score at 4:17. The Bears did not collapse in response to the quick DM scoring. Patrick Giles reduced the deficit with a brilliant goal @ 4:01. Unfortunately, the Hyattsville school injected the sort of action, soon thereafter, which frequently breaks the opponents’ spirit; the Stags buried a goal at 3:32 and did so shorthanded. At the end of this stanza of the game, a DM skater received a 5 minute penalty.

AT THE END OF THE 2^nd PERIOD –BEARS 3/ STAGS 5

LSoG 15/31 DMSoG 8/16

Landon tallied a goal during the major penalty, the puck was brought to the crease where the Bears repeatedly tried to jam the puck past the DM goalie. Michael Soraci assisted on a goal scored by Tommy Crittenberger @ 14:02. The home team tried very hard to maintain their margin of one. Under a minute Coach Farnstrom pulled the goalie and Brian Jordan shot the puck and Patrick put the puck past the DM goalie for the tying score @ 0:49.8.

AT THE END OF THE 3^rd PERIOD –BEARS 5/ STAGS 5

LSoG 15/46 DMSoG 3/19

To start the next period, the announcer explained that there would be a 10 period during which the FIRST score would be the winner. The Bears’ tenacity was rewarded with a Tommy to Michael to Patrick winning goal @ 7:19. The cheers of the Landon fans were pure cacophony filled with joy and extreme expressions of Bear Pride. The boys had persevered.

AT THE END OF THE OVERTIME –BEARS 6/ STAGS 5

LSoG 5/51 DMSoG 1/20

Truly a team effort following a well designed game plan. Though there were many readily available excuses, they persevered. CONGRATULATIONS!!!

NEXT TUESDAY AT THE LAUREL ICE GARDENS @ 6PM, THE BEARS V. CALVERT HALL (upset Gonzaga)FOR THE MAPHL CHAMPIONSHIP!!!

Landon met and defeated the Cardinals earlier in the season.