Quarter 1
The Cubs win the opening sprint, granting them the first offensive possession of the night. The team fails to register a shot within the thirty-second shot clock and give the ball up to the Lion offense. The lions take on the Cub press but only produce a shot straight at the keeper. On the other end, the Cubs turn the ball over quickly but make up for it with a quick steal of their own. Unfortunately, another offensive foul gives the ball back to the Lions but the Cubs make sure to keep the Lions off the score sheet. The Cubs force the first ejection of the match and convert immediately with a shot from Agliozzo. An aggressive press from the Cubs after the goal forces a turnover that puts the Cubs in position to score. The cubs miss their chance but a quick steal puts the team right back into prime scoring position. An offensive foul spells a turnover, though, which the Lions use to take another poor shot at goal. The Cubs produce a meager shot of their own and find themselves on defense again quickly. The Lions finally take advantage of their opportunity and equalize the score with a goal a minute prior to the end of the quarter. After the goal, the Cubs move the ball around nicely, but a misplaced pass gives the ball back to be Lions. Luckily, the team is strong defensively, evidenced by the Lions’ inability to produce quality chances. Mueller makes a solid save and ends the quarter with a score of 1-1.
Score 1-1
Quarter 2
Winning the sprint, the Cubs force an exclusion to open the second quarter. However, the Cubs only produce a shot straight at the keeper followed by an exclusion of their own, leading to a goal for Oaks Christian. The Cubs respond to the goal with a shot that hits the crossbar but falls just short of finding the mark. Mueller makes two consecutive saves to ensure the Cubs don’t concede and remain down only one score. The Cubs work the ball down and nearly equalize with a skip shot that hits the bar. The team’s second effort is much better, though, as Pernecky sends an equalizer ps the keeper. The Lions respond quickly with a goal that gives them the lead right after the Cubs’ equalizing effort. The Cubs nearly do the same but miss an opportunity from a yard out. The Cubs again give themselves a chance to score but a big response from the Lion keeper keeps the Cubs down one. The Cubs again come up with a stop but so do the Lions who turn the ball over off a great play from Engstrom. The story remains the same, though, as the Lions force another turnover while the primes itself to score. Another steal from the visiting Cubs forces another save from the Oaks goalie, one of many tonight. The Cubs nearly turn the ball over on the offensive end but manage to produce a shot instead. The attempt, however, is far from the desired destination and ends the half.
Score 2-3
Quarter 3
After a tussle, the Cubs win the sprint but fail to any semblance of an opportunity as they have the ball stolen late in the shot clock. The Cubs force a steal of their own but again turn the ball over to the Lions. Oaks works the ball around nicely and capitalize on a missed mark from the Cubs to score the opener of the half. Another Lion steal comes straight after the bucket, but the Cubs don’t concede this time. A strong hand from Mueller gets the team the ball back. The team forces an exclusion, allowing Engstrom to find the back of the net for the team’s third goal. The Lions come out of the goal aggressive but a nice steal allows the Cubs quell the push. The extra possession results in a weak attempt at the goal as time expired on the shot clock for the Cubs. The Lions come back down the other end and nearly find the mark but send the ball just over the bar. The Lions force a Cub turnover but the Cubs rally with a blocked shot defensively. The Cubs drop a pass and nearly concede a goal but manage to stave off the Lions by the skin of their teeth. The experience seems to have shaken the Cubs awake as Kranz cuts in to finish off a chance that puts the Cubs level with the Lions. The Lions response to conceding is turning the ball over, followed immediately by an exclusion. The Cubs use the man advantage to produce three consecutive shots on goal, finally finishing the chance on the last one. The Cubs take the lead going into the final frame.
Score 5-4
Quarter 4
The Cubs win the final sprint but fail to produce a chance of substance for the fourth time this game. Mueller comes up with a point blank save to maintain the Cub lead, but the Cubs turn the ball over quickly with their chance. A Cub steal puts the team back in the driver’ seat but another turnover allows the Lions to respond with a goal that puts the home team level with the Cubs. From the after goal, the Cubs force an exclusion and use the advantage to take back the lead. The Lions have the ball stolen off the goal, allowing a solid look at goal that goes just wide. The Cubs come up with a magnificent steal, but a missed foul helps the Lions steal the ball right back. The Lions produce a great bar-in that puts the two team’s level at 6 goals a piece. A weak shot from the Cubs means the Lions have the ball again, but they fail to produce a meaningful opportunity on goal themselves. With a minute and thirty-four seconds left in the match, the Cubs call a timeout to establish the plan to score a winner. The Lions nearly steal the ball but a foul makes sure the Cubs get another chance, one they waste anyway. The Lions call a timeout of their own with forty-nine seconds remaining to hash their own plan. They manage a shot that skips to the bar, but the Cubs clean up the rebound and call a timeout with 28 seconds remaining in regulation. The Cubs produce a post up opportunity but have the ball stolen in the effort to score. Five seconds remain for the Lions to win in regular time, something that proves to be too little.
Score 6-6
Overtime
The Cubs win the sprint but have their shot saved by the Lion keeper. The Cubs get a second which they send off the post and out. Defensively, the Cubs come up with a steal and force an exclusion offensively. The chance allows Agliozzo to convert and give the Cubs the lead in overtime. The Lions respond with a lob that finds the mark and equalizes. The Cubs attempt a lob of their own but fall short in the pursuit of the lead. The Cubs force an exclusion with 11 seconds left in the first half of overtime but fail to take advantage, sending a shot wide.
The last sprint is taken by the Lions who manage a shot straight at the keeper. The Cubs nearly beat the keeper near post, but the Lions manage to keep the ball out. The cubs steal the ball quickly but give it away just as fast with a steal by the keeper. The Cubs come up with a stop and use their only timeout with 59 seconds remaining in overtime. The Cubs get the ball to the post before taking a foul that ultimately takes the team out of scoring position. The Lions force an exclusion on the way back down and use their timeout with 33 seconds remaining in overtime. The Lions move the ball around and muscle a ball in to the near post with nine seconds left to play. The Cubs have their last ditch effort blocked and lose the game by one goal.
Score 7-8