Second seeded HFL scored seven unanswered goals to finish out the game in their 14-5 win over third seeded Geneva. The game was tied twice early in the first half, but the Cougars never lost after scoring the opening goal 1:05 into play. Senior Quinn Kailbourne dominated the game with 6g-2a. Junior Marco Vengoechea (1g-2a) and sophomores Grady Goodberlet (2g-3a) and Cash Arena (4g-1a) also made significant offensive contributions. For Geneva, Ryland Dunham (3g) led in scoring with Ben Budgar adding 1g-1a. In the goal for the Cougars, Jason Bennett finished with 14 saves.

Throughout the first quarter and a half, the game was back and forth with ties at both 2-2 and 3-3. Kailbourne’s first goal started with a drive by Goodberlet. He came around from behind the cage on a wide drive before feeding the ball to Kailbourne near the top of the restraining line. Less than a minute later, the two switched with Kailbourne feeding Goodberlet. This time with a left to right sweep across the top of the box and an underhanded shot from Goodberlet. The Cougars led 2-0 less than two minutes into the game. Geneva responded with two goals of their own to tie up the score. Dunham’s first goal was unassisted with a drive from behind the cage. Two minutes later, Budgar scored with an assist from Jack Dunham. Budgar scored after receiving the ball on the right side of the goal and stepping in past his defensive slide. With 5:36 remaining in the opening quarter, the score was tied 2-2. HFL added one more goal before the quarter ended with Vengeochea scoring off an inside feed from Goodberlet to the crease.

Geneva scored the opening goal of the second quarter iw2th Dunham scoring again, this time assisted by Budgar. The goal was scored during extra-man offense. With the game tied 3-3 with 8:05 left in the half, the Cougars took over. They scored three unanswered goals with Goodberlet scoring on a fast-break. After Bennett saved a shot, the ball was sent up into the air. Goodberlet grabbed the ball and ran the entire length of the field before scoring. This followed with back-to-back goals by Arena. The first in man-down and the second with a drive behind the cage by Jackson Coon that found him open on the crease after the slide. HFL led 6-3 with five minutes left in the half. Each team added one more goal before the break with Dunham scoring another man-up goal and Kailbourne adding his second of the night (with an assist from Arena). The Cougars led 7-4 going into halftime.

In the second half, Geneva scored the first goal before being held scoreless for the final 19 minutes. The final Panther goal was scored by Dominick Vedora with an outside shot from the top. HFL added five more goals in the third and the only two goals of the fourth quarter. In the stretch were two goals from Arena and four from Kailbourne. Coon scored his lone goal of the game to round out the scoring.

Second seeded HFL moves on to face top seeded Pal-Mac for the Class C Sectional Title on June 2nd at Hobart.   [ Story and BOX SCORE]