Finnegan Leads Gananda to Victory

May 18, 2017 - Gananda took over the lead in the second quarter and never let go.  The Blue Panthers defeated Gates Chili 16-14.  It was senior night at Gananda, the first three goals were all scored by seniors.  Alex Buchko scored the opening goal 0:52 into the game with Jacob Thomas and Ryan Finnegan adding the next two.

Gates-Chili seniors Nicholas Ehmann and Jarrett Kirkpatrick combined for five straight goals to give the Spartans a 5-3 lead with just over one minute remaining in the open quarter.  Junior midfielder Patrick Shanley scored on an assist from Junior Henry Bush with 22 seconds left in the first quarter for Gananda to cut the Spartans’ lead to one.  Gates Chili led 5-4 after 12 minutes.

Gananda took a 6-5 lead after two straight goals from Senior defender Matt Rapp to start the second quarter and they never looked back.  Shanley added another on an assist from Thomas, and Juniors Jon Weise and Evan Smith had assists to Finnegan for the next two Gananda goals, which put the Blue Panthers up by four.  Ehmann answered with two scores and Gananda was had a slim 9-7 lead at the half.

The Spartans cut the lead to one just 11 seconds into the third quarter on another Ehmann goal.  However, that was the closest that they got.  Gananda Freshman Jake Rapp had the next assist to Junior Jon Weise to put Gananda back up by two.  Ehmann scored the next goal for the Spartans.  Finnegan scored unassisted to put Gananda up 11-9 and notch his 100th varsity point for the Blue Panthers.  Gananda Juniors Evan Smith and Brett Cunningham each scored to stretch the lead to 13-9 heading into the final quarter of play.

Spartans Junior Carson Spychala scored first in the fourth quarter, and Ehmann and Kirkpatrick added four more goals between them before the game ended, but the Gananda offense answered with goals from Juniors Henry Bush, Brett Cunningham and Patrick Shanley to keep Gananda on top.  The Gananda defense recorded 39 GBs and 4 Takes, and Goalie Jason Good had 13 saves.