Game 40 vs. Bridgewater Bears
Game 40: 1/23/05 vs. Bridgewater Bears (L 4-0)
After most of the NJYHL got snowed in on Saturday, this game was pushed to Sunday after the Glaciers said they weren't coming. The much anticipated game was delayed one day but both teams were still ready to go. The Colonials skated into Bridgewater Sports Arena to face off against the rival Bears. Both teams are skating hard for that final spot in district playoffs and this one was exciting. These two hated rivals both came out flying, exchanging hit for hit up and down the ice. Both goalies played well in the first, including a nasty glove save on Brian Dixon to start the game. The Colonials were having trouble getting things going in the offensive zone. The defense had a few nice shots from the point but they were pushed wide and Buzz Sobieski had some good chances with Mike Lundberg and Matt Fullam on the doorstep but just couldn't cash in as the Bears D stepped up. Geoff Durham kept his team in it on the other side of the ice and the score was 0-0 after 1 period. Penalties played a factor for the rest of the game and the Colonials found themselves down a man and would pay for it as one of those pesky Bears snuck to the front of the net and banged one home on the power play. The score stayed 1-0 after two periods. It was a defensive struggle for most of the games and shot counts were down on both sides. At the very beginning of the third period Jay Sogliuzzo picked off a D to D pass at the point and sprung Matt Daugherty on a breakaway. "I was thinking at the time that if Matt put that one in it's a different game and we're back in it and if he didn't then it's going downhill from there.", Coach Frank said after the game. Daugherty was in all alone but received a hook last minute from behind and got a small shot off. A hooking penalty was assessed instead of a penalty shot because he was able to get some kind of shot off. From there on out the referees took over and started calling everyone, after they had left their whistles in their pockets for most of the game. At one point it was a 3 on 3. The Bears took advantage of the open ice as the Colonials began to take some risks trying to tie the score up late in the game. The Bears would score the next 3 unanswered goals to win the game 4-0. The game was alot closer then the score reflects. The Colonials drop to 11-3-3 in the league this year as they were unable to really get anything going. The Bears become the first team to shutout the Colonials in 40 games this year. The rematch is Saturday night at Mennen.
Geoff Durham: 13 saves (4 goals allowed)
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