Feb 26, 2012 | Chris Vogels | 988 views
For ALL the Marbles
This series had gone all the way to game #5 with both teams looking to play their best game of the year. But only one team can go home happy.
What can I say... the Mitchell Meteor boys came to play tonight! Knowing that they would have to play their best TEAM game of the year, they were pumped coming out of the gate. Duncan was forced to make a couple great saves in the opening moments and this showed his frontmen that he would back them if they could produce results at the other end. And results came from their efforts less than halfway through the period when McCorkindale fired a bullet and open the scoring on the powerplay. This would stand as the only goal in the frame and Mitchell would take a 1-0 lead into the second.
Play would continue in the second as it had been in the first, with play going from end to end. Mitchell's D stood their ground and kept most of the Listowel chances to the side while keeping the puck heading deep into their visitor's end. The forwards kept putting pressure on while helping out their defencemen with solid backchecking. 5 minutes in, Dietz busted in and sent the rubber at the net where Boville grabbed the rebound and tucked the loose puck into the bottom corner. The rest of the period would continue to have the fans watching play go back and forth and the period would end with the Meteors up 2-0.
With 15 minutes let to go, the home crowd cheered on the boys as they stood their ground and worked hard at containing their visitors powerful forwards. It became clear that frustration was setting in as the Cylones took a few penalties giving Mitchell a chance to keep the puck deep in their opponents zone. But Duncan was forced to make more good stops and keep his team in the game. Just over 5 minutes into the third the Meteors had pressure around the net and during the scramble, Rauser's shot found the back of the net with assists going to McCorkindale and Boville for a 3 goal lead late in the game. Listowel continued to press and the Meteors were continuing to keep them at bay. But the Cyclones would break in down the wing where a solid wrister beat Duncan clean. With that Listowel got back within 2. While this would serve as a wakeup call, the Meteors dug in deep and stuck to their game plan successfully for a 3-1 win!
Great Team WIN!
So after a great (but tough) series, Mitchell Meteors win 3 games to 2!
The semi-finals will now begin at home Friday @ 6:45 vs Lambeth.
CONGRATULATIONS BOYS!!!