Victor Heads to Finals for Fifth Straight Year
May 27, 2017 - SPORTSFIVE REPORT: In a game were the score was closer than the contest, Victor defeated Brighton 13-9. The Blue Devils had an 8 goal lead in the fourth quarter (13-5), before Brighton scored the final five goals. The Barons kept the game close earlier, before Victor began to slowly pull away. The Blue Devils held Brighton scoreless for 19 minutes spanning the entire third quarter. Victor advances to the finals for the fifth consecutive time (three time defending Champion).
Brighton opened the game with the first two goals. The Barons scored with 10:46 remaining in the first quarter with a goal that began with Noah Shinaman. Shinaman was coming off the field to sub, when his defender pulled a little too far ahead. Shinaman turned back and got the fast-break started. He received the ball and crossed to Casey McDermott for the opener. The second goal was also a fast-break goal with Shea McDonald scoring a drive down the side. After trailing 2-0, Victor scored the next six goals and never trailed again. The first Blue Devil goal was also a fast-break. Goalie Chayse Ierlan made a strong save to begin the play. A quick outlet got them up the field. The goal was assisted by Alex Hernandez and scored by Sam Lambert. Ierlan finished with eight recorded saves. Andrew Russell scored the next goal with a dodge to the goal and Victor took the lead with a face-off fast-break from Matt Gardner. Victor added one more goal before the quarter finished. Off a dead ball, Alexander Mabbett drove straight to the goal with 0:56 remaining. Victor led 4-2 after 12 minutes.
The Blue Devils continued with the first two goals of the second quarter. Russell scored with another outside shot (this time during man-up). The sixth goal was scored by Mitchell Cain; after being forced into his non-dominate hand, he stepped up and scored for Victor off-handed. Brighton got back on the board with a man-up goal of their own with Owen Ronchetti assisting Brady McDermott. Cain scored the next goal off a loose ball on the crease. He took the initial shot that was saved by Caleb Green, before grabbing the loose ball and finishing on the second attempt. Green finished with 10 saves. Both teams added one more goal before halftime; Victor led 8-4 going into the break.
In the third quarter, Victor added three goals and held Brighton scoreless. Clark Andre, Russell and Joey Pezzimenti scored for the Blue Devils. After three quarters, they led 11-4. The first four goals of the fourth quarter alternated goals. Victor scored on an inside feed during man-up with Camden Hay assisting Connor Kennan. Brighton responded with an inside feed during man-up with Randall dodging after the catch to score unassisted. The final Blue Devil goal was scored by Russell with an outside shot. Brighton scored the final four goal with scoring for Lukas Stanat (2), Ronchetti and McDonald.
