In an “OAA Showcase” game featuring OAA I and II teams in battle at the Troy Sports Center, Birmingham Unified, (2-11-3, 1-6-1 OAA I) tied Troy Athens, (10-3-4, 5-0-3 OAA II) last Saturday, January 31st. Though Unified had control of the scoreboard for most of the game, a late goal allowed Athens to steal a victory from BU.
“It was a good game,” said senior defensive captain Adam Solomon, who was sidelined with a neck injury. “Everyone played hard. It’s tough to give up a goal so late in the game.”
Tough may be an understatement. Groves senior goalie Zach Silver played outstanding between the pipes for most of the first period, stopping many wellaimed shots, and allowed BU to take the first lead, 1-0, on a fantastic pass to center from Ryan Bertrand to Seaholm sophomore Kevin Wilberding, with 5:18 remaining in the period. The lone lapse by Unified in the period was a goal allowed with 1:23 remaining.
The second period was a defensive stronghold by both squads. After many quality saves from Silver, junior forward Dan Bailey took one for the team as he sprawled to the ice to block a shot on an open net. Then, about halfway through the period, sophomore Jake Martin’s slap shot was deflected into the net to give BU a 2-1 advantage. The rest of the period was full of great goalie play by both teams, as great shots were prevented time and time again from going into the goal.
Athens nearly tied the game just three minutes into the third quarter, as a deflected shot entered the net, but after determining it was intentionally deflected off of a player’s foot, the referees called it back because of the kick-in violation. There was not much activity for either team for the next ten minutes, until Troy Athens pulled their goalie in the waning minutes of the game. With under a minute left and an empty net behind them, Athens seemingly willed the puck into the net through tough defense by Unified, tying the game at three.
An eight minute overtime was played, but neither team was able to finish at the goal to seal the victory.
“We had a couple of chances to win it in overtime,” said Solomon. “Now we have to get ready to play again Wednesday."
