Aquitayne Strikes Back!
Team Captain, Geoffry Seigler, stares down the cameras after scoring the final, and winning goal of the match.
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ARENA CENTER, Thrilledge, ANN - Aquitayne rebounds after another loss to Narsora to regain posture in Group 9 standings.
Yesterday, Aquitayne suffered from its second consecutive defeat in its first World Cup of Hockey premier. The first loss of the tourny against Kelssek upset many Aquitaynians, but the additional 1 - 0 loss against Narsora was completely unexpected and also shook Aquitaynian hockey fans to their core. Not only had Aquitayne lost two matches in a row, it had also dropped to the very bottom of the Group 9 standings, going instantly from 2nd place - and a guaranteed shot in the playoffs - to second to last in the group.
Many Aquitaynian fans had given up hope that we would be reaching the playoffs in our first premier, and perhaps making a name for ourselves internationally. It was a dream many hoped could come true in this first tournament, the debut of the Aquitaynian National Hockey Team, and it all seemed to be instantly ripped away in that match against Narsora. It looked as though the Aquitaynian offense couldn't get anything working; the comradeship could easily be seen falling apart, and likewise the teamwork that had worked so well in the beginning of the WCoH began to fail.
However, through all of the adversity and the challenges, Aquitayne bounced back tonight to grip a 5 to 4 victory over Thrilledge. The game last night was played with extreme diversity and a lot of powerful offensive strikes from Aquitayne, as well as solid defense and a good momentum that was kept throughout the match. Likewise, Thrilledge also kept up good momentum throughout the game, which would result in the high scoring chances that occurred in the game. Aquitayne would strike first in the game for the first time in the tournament, leading the game 1 - 0 by the middle of the First Period. Aquitaynian defense began heavy assault on the Thrilledge forwards, oftentimes smashing them into the boards.
It seems as though Coach Molotsky has found that a more physical type of play for the Aquitaynian National Team goes a lot further than simple agility and stamina. Crushing the opponent seems to give a moral boost to the players, and it also breaks up the opposing teams movement and playmaking abilities. Towards the end of the first period, Thrilledge would strike back to take a 2 - 1 lead over Aquitayne leading into the Second Period. As always, Aquitayne found a way to strike back hard and fast, immediately shutting the mouth of any Thrilledgian commentators who thought they had the game in the bag.
Most of the scoring would be done in the Second Period, as well as most of the penalties. Thrilledge was granted a power-play in the 12th minute for a roughing call on Defensemen Andre Colen. The two minute power play would be cut short within thirty seconds when Thrilledge Left Winger #18 scored on Andre Badalamenti, via a slapshot that slipped just under Badalamenti's glove. Thrilledge was also given two penalties for roughing and slashing in the 15th and 9th minute of play, giving Aquitayne an opportunity they seldom could make something out of. It's obvious that Aquitayne needs to severely work on its power play abilities.
Nevertheless, the score would end up being tied at the end of the Second Period, at 4 to 4 respectively. Moving into the third period of play, Aquitayne projected a sense of dominance over the ice, crushing Thrilledgian forwards that dared to cross the blue-line into center ice. It was a tactic that the Thrilledgian forwards were not accustomed to, and seemingly were unable to do anything about. At one point the Thrilledgian team deployed their defensemen in front of the forwards to try and eliminate the constant barrage of hits by Aquitaynian players, but nevertheless the puck holder always found himself pressed against the boards.
Aquitayne was playing a highly defensive game in the Third Period up until around the 10th minute, when their aggressive and more physical style of play gave way, but intertwined with their new fast striking tactic to barrage the Thrilledge goaltender with more shots-on-goal than he could handle. This tactic went undeterred by Thrilledgian defensemen for more than five minutes before team Captain Geoffry Seigler scored in the 3rd minute with a beautiful play in which he was skating along the left side of the goal with Right Winger Aksel Ness bearing down on the net. When the lane opened up, he quickly passed the puck to Seigler, who immediately controlled the puck and maneuvered himself around the goaltender, stopping and spinning counter-clockwise to place the puck in the net while the goaltender went the complete opposite direction. The beautiful play earned Seigler the Player of the Match award.
Not only was this a great morale boost for Aquitayne, it was their first win at home of the tournament, and the first victory for the team on home soil. Aquitaynian fans were engaged and supportive during the entire match, and it was a frenzy in the stands as Seigler scored that final goal to win the game. Coach Molotsky stated with a smile and chuckle, "Our fans are unlike any other in the world. They're supportive, unconditionally loving, but still strict and firm as to what they want done."
Many Aquitaynian fans had given up hope that we would be reaching the playoffs in our first premier, and perhaps making a name for ourselves internationally. It was a dream many hoped could come true in this first tournament, the debut of the Aquitaynian National Hockey Team, and it all seemed to be instantly ripped away in that match against Narsora. It looked as though the Aquitaynian offense couldn't get anything working; the comradeship could easily be seen falling apart, and likewise the teamwork that had worked so well in the beginning of the WCoH began to fail.
However, through all of the adversity and the challenges, Aquitayne bounced back tonight to grip a 5 to 4 victory over Thrilledge. The game last night was played with extreme diversity and a lot of powerful offensive strikes from Aquitayne, as well as solid defense and a good momentum that was kept throughout the match. Likewise, Thrilledge also kept up good momentum throughout the game, which would result in the high scoring chances that occurred in the game. Aquitayne would strike first in the game for the first time in the tournament, leading the game 1 - 0 by the middle of the First Period. Aquitaynian defense began heavy assault on the Thrilledge forwards, oftentimes smashing them into the boards.
Our fans
are unlike
any other in
the world. They're
supportive,
unconditionally loving,
but still strict and firm
in what they want to see
done.
It seems as though Coach Molotsky has found that a more physical type of play for the Aquitaynian National Team goes a lot further than simple agility and stamina. Crushing the opponent seems to give a moral boost to the players, and it also breaks up the opposing teams movement and playmaking abilities. Towards the end of the first period, Thrilledge would strike back to take a 2 - 1 lead over Aquitayne leading into the Second Period. As always, Aquitayne found a way to strike back hard and fast, immediately shutting the mouth of any Thrilledgian commentators who thought they had the game in the bag.
Most of the scoring would be done in the Second Period, as well as most of the penalties. Thrilledge was granted a power-play in the 12th minute for a roughing call on Defensemen Andre Colen. The two minute power play would be cut short within thirty seconds when Thrilledge Left Winger #18 scored on Andre Badalamenti, via a slapshot that slipped just under Badalamenti's glove. Thrilledge was also given two penalties for roughing and slashing in the 15th and 9th minute of play, giving Aquitayne an opportunity they seldom could make something out of. It's obvious that Aquitayne needs to severely work on its power play abilities.
Nevertheless, the score would end up being tied at the end of the Second Period, at 4 to 4 respectively. Moving into the third period of play, Aquitayne projected a sense of dominance over the ice, crushing Thrilledgian forwards that dared to cross the blue-line into center ice. It was a tactic that the Thrilledgian forwards were not accustomed to, and seemingly were unable to do anything about. At one point the Thrilledgian team deployed their defensemen in front of the forwards to try and eliminate the constant barrage of hits by Aquitaynian players, but nevertheless the puck holder always found himself pressed against the boards.
Aquitayne was playing a highly defensive game in the Third Period up until around the 10th minute, when their aggressive and more physical style of play gave way, but intertwined with their new fast striking tactic to barrage the Thrilledge goaltender with more shots-on-goal than he could handle. This tactic went undeterred by Thrilledgian defensemen for more than five minutes before team Captain Geoffry Seigler scored in the 3rd minute with a beautiful play in which he was skating along the left side of the goal with Right Winger Aksel Ness bearing down on the net. When the lane opened up, he quickly passed the puck to Seigler, who immediately controlled the puck and maneuvered himself around the goaltender, stopping and spinning counter-clockwise to place the puck in the net while the goaltender went the complete opposite direction. The beautiful play earned Seigler the Player of the Match award.
Not only was this a great morale boost for Aquitayne, it was their first win at home of the tournament, and the first victory for the team on home soil. Aquitaynian fans were engaged and supportive during the entire match, and it was a frenzy in the stands as Seigler scored that final goal to win the game. Coach Molotsky stated with a smile and chuckle, "Our fans are unlike any other in the world. They're supportive, unconditionally loving, but still strict and firm as to what they want done."
Top Scorers WCoH2013
Num Name G A Pts
24 Aksel Ness 2 2 4
17 Geoffry Seigler (C) 2 1 3
15 Jan Oseiki 2 0 2
28 Neil Gram 1 1 2
16 Matthew Thakkar (A) 1 0 1
09 Julio Achinson 1 0 1
01 Samuel Wiaters 0 1 1
14 Fredrick Seitz 1 0 1
18 Daniel Ithrig 0 1 1
11 Harrison Cannard 1 0 1
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