Thunder 3, Spencerport 1 (Lakeshore)
D&C Staff Reports 1/17/09
Greg Ryan scored two goals to lead Greece Athena/Odyssey (12-0) and Eric Gunderson added two assists. Greece goalie Mike Rotolo 25 saves. Tyler Lariviere had 26 saves for Spencerport. Spencerport's Sean Bihrle scored in the first period. Greece tied it 1-1 in the second period on a goal by Ryan. Greece scored on the power play to take a 2-1 lead at the beginning of the third period. At 7:21 of the third, Greece's J.T. Stenglein scored the game's final goal.
Wes Vyverberg Reports
Game Report
Parker's cousin Jennna Bruce was back in the house 'killing the anthem at the shore' (that's a good thing - just ask the judges on ABDC) to set the stage for a Thunder sweep of their 2-game series with Spencerport. Having beat the Rangers badly (9-1) in the first meeting back in December, everyone figured this would be another blowout. That was certainly not the case, as the Rangers' netminder (Lariviere) came up big challenging several early chances to keep Thunder off the board. What's more, Greece spotted Spencerport a 1-goal lead when a shot from the point was deflected off the twig of former Thunder teammate Sean Bihrle, past Mike Rotolo, and into the Thunder net, in the waning minutes of the first frame. Mike Bihrle, please come to the snack shop, your fries are done! Not only did Spencerport draw first blood, but they also outshot Thunder 11-7 in the opening period. Mingia boys, wake up, "being #1 in the state does not win games", so say'eth Mr Rotolo. You gotta lace 'em up every night and go to work!
After being denied on a previous rush, Greg Ryan got the equalizer one minute into the second period, assisted by Brandon Cheeseman. Then Gunderson laid Bihrle out at center ice to rally the troops. But Spencerport just kept coming back for more. Enter JT Stenglein who broke up a Rangers breakaway with a diving sweep check, a fine example of giving all you got for the good of the team. That play averted a potential momentum change that might have caused things to take a turn for the worse. Then Stenglein 'draws the foul' late in the second to give his team a 4 minute man-advantage.
Thunder would capitalize on that advantage with five seconds to go in the perpetual powerplay that bridged the beginning of the third period. It was Ryan with his second of the nite, assisted by Gunderson and Bournbonnais, 2-1 Thunder. Then Stenglein added an insurance goal, assisted by Matt Lane, cashing in a rebound with less than 7 minutes to go after following up his initial attempt.
Sofia Collision goes out to Eric Gunderson for caring enough to "send his very best", to Bihrle that is. First star of the game goes to Greg Ryan with a pair of goals and the winner; second star of the game goes to JT Stenglein with one goal and a solid effort in both ends of the rink; third star goes to the Thunder defensive core (Vipes, Hebs, Gundi, Cubbi, and Scotty) for all the little things they did to keep the Rangers at bay, the stuff you did not see in the morning paper the next day. Shots were 29-26 in Thunder's favor. Rotolo made 25 saves for the win (his 4th on the year) as Thunder advanced their record to 12-0, with a 3-1 victory over the Rangers.
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