Union Beats Tigers 6-3 in GTR Cup Round 1
Glenn Hibdon
GTR Sports Writer
Union sophomore Coleby Evans, the hero of the inaugural Cup last season, was at it again against Broken Arrow in the opening game on Feb. 11 at the Center.
Evans scored two goals while Jonathan Stenzel and Tristan Ressler each added two points, lifting the Redskins past the Tigers 6-3 and into another championship game against Jenks.
“We gave up a couple of goals we shouldn’t have, but these are young guys who are still learning,’’ said Union coach Tom Karalis. “That’s how you, by mistakes.
“Coleby, Tristan and Aaron Bell are the corps of our team and everybody thrives off their energy. We will have to pick up our game against Jenks. They are well coached and they have a lot of travel players. We will have to play error-free hockey to win.’’
A explosive second period fueled the Redskins by Broken Arrow. Evans rebounded Stenzel’s shot upstairs over Tigers goalie Ludwig Dischner just 25 seconds into the middle frame, giving Union a 3-1 lead. Bell scored unassisted prior to Broken Arrow coming within 4-2 on Berent Ostervold’s rebound at 3:07.
Evans scored perhaps the biggest goal of the game at 9:08 when he walked in front of Dischner from the right wing and placed a shot past the keeper’s glove hand.
Trevor Eckert tallied from the slot on a power play, rifling a puck that trickled in off Discher, producing a 6-2 Union lead early in the final period. Ryan Welch collected the Tigers’ last goal shorthanded with a shot between the post and Chris Gil’s glove.
The Redskins converted shorthanded in the first period to take a 1-0 lead on Jason Small’s score. Broken Arrow tied it on Cameron Hamilton’s power-play rocket, then Ressler gave Union the lead for keeps at 2-1 when his shot from the slot bounced off Dischner.
The 2012 Cup finals, which will feature arch rivals Jenks and Union, will be held at 1:30 today at the Center. Union will be defending their 2011 Cup championship.
UNION 6, BROKEN ARROW 3
Broken Arrow 1 1 1 – 3
Union 2 3 1 – 6
FIRST PERIOD: 1, Union, Small (Nevarez), 4:42 (sh). 2, Broken Arrow, Hamilton (unassisted), 5:15 (pp). 3, Union, Ressler (Stenzel), 10:06. Penalties-Union, Evans (cross checking), :21. Union, Eckert (elbowing), 3:54. Broken Arrow, Strickland (hooking), 8:07. Union, Joy (interference), 9:41. Union, Bell (hooking), 12:04.
SECOND PERIOD: 4, Union, Evans (Stenzel), :35. 5, Union, Bell (unassisted), :55. 6, Broken Arrow, Ostervold (Robison), 3:07. 7, Union, Evans (unassisted), 9:08. Penalties-None.
THIRD PERIOD: 8, Union Eckert (Ressler), 2:40 (pp). 9, Broken Arrow, Welch (Robison), 3:01 (sh). Penalties-Union, Stenzel (cross checking), :50. Broken Arrow, Potter (elbowing), 1:43. Union, Cahill (interference), 10:36. Broken Arrow, Robison (cross checking), 11:22.
Shots:
Broken Arrow 6 4 7 – 17
Union 10 15 13 – 38
Saves
Broken Arrow-Dischner 8 12 12 – 32
Union-Gil 5 3 6 – 14
Updated 02-12-2012
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