Wildcats "Dodge" Bullet in Triple Overtime


The West Genesee Wildcats took home their 10th win of the season (and 41st in a row)...just barely escaping Baldwinsville with a three overtime 6-5 victory. Baldwinsville's Jamie Dodge paced the way for the Bees tallying 3 goals but Genny junior Joe Pompo's final two goals of the game ended up being the difference in the second meeting between both teams in less than a week.

Baldwinsville set the tone early with controlling possession for the opening 5 minutes of the game and Genny's defense holding down the fort. The 'Cats got on the board first after sophomore Ryan Barber had the ball dislodged from his cross as he moved toward the goal. Senior attacker Chris Schmidt scrapped for the loose ball just off to the left side of the cage, turned and flicked in the first point of the evening with 5:06 remaining. The Bees answered not soon after when Jake Murphy cutting from behind the net spun and ripped a right-handed shot over the left shoulder of junior goaltender John Galloway from 5 yards out to knot the score at one apiece before the quarter ended.

The 'Cats regained the lead when junior attacker Collin Donahue dished off to Schmidt who strode from the left side behind the goal and whipped a right-hander that found the top right corner of the net at the 10:21 mark. With difficulties at the face off circle and one-and-done trips down field on offense throughout the contest, the Wildcat defensive unit had to to step up and turn in multiple two, three and four minute defensive stands. For the most part, the group held their own and truly deserve due credit for upholding the the end result as the close defense unit and Galloway repeatedly standing up and brushing aside the buzzing Bees.

Sooner or later there will be a breakdown in coverage or a penalty out of frustration when asked to deliver for long stretches. B'ville's Jamie Dodge exploited that when running off an isolation play, he skipped a low shot to the left corner to tie the game at 2-2 with 2:31 remaining. It didn't take long for the 'Cats to find an answer as right off the ensuing face off, senior Kevin Courtney flicked the ball out front of him, recovered it and quickly passed up field to junior attacker Collin Donahue. Donahue in turn quickly turned and found Chris Schmidt left goal line extended where he quickly zipped a cross-crease pass to junior attacker Adam Mazzoni that was as good as money in the bank. Within a span of 7 seconds, the series of precision passes resulted in a 3-2 lead for the Wildcats. Dodge again tried to exploit the 'Cats with the exact same isolation move that worked earlier but Galloway smothered the low shot before the half ended.

The third period saw much of the same defensive stands by the Wildcat defense which was highlighted by multiple strips by Woeppel who plays like a man amongst children. In a rare moment, B'ville was able to position an attacker right on the crease who attempted to deliver a quick shot past Galloway but was denied when he stepped up for a monster save. Collin Donahue helped to double up the Bees when he charged from the left backside of the goal and whipped a shot past B'ville net minder Andy Lamb as he was pounded to the turf from behind with 3:48 remaining. With the 'Cats man-down for what seemed like the 10th time, Dodge dodged left, then right off an isolation move and buried a shot with 17 ticks remaining in the quarter to cut the score to 4-3.

Towering junior middie Joe Pompo took off from the restraining line and and whipped a powerful left-handed blast that zipped over the left shoulder of Lamb to inch the lead out to 5-3 with 10:56 remaining. Genny again was again punished on the man-down when Dodge took matters into his own hands and repeated the same move that worked twice already. Dodge flew past his defender and buried a left-handed shot to the top left corner to cut the score to 5-4 with 9:56 remaining in the game and despite being behind, Baldwinsville clearly had the momentum, their fans support and the clock on their side. With 7:14 to go, the Bee's Jeremy Boltus went to the five-hole on Galloway and knotted the game at 5-5 leaving the stadium and sidelines rocking as they sensed an upset in the making. The remaining part of regulation was evenly played with each team having equal opportunities to eak out the win, however the Bees usually delivering multiple attempts to Genny's one and done variety on each trip down.

The first two 4 minute overtime periods again were played pretty much evenly and saw both goalies step up with great stops on numerous good shots that could have ended the game for either team at any point. Mazzoni, Courtney, Cost and Pompo all were able to break free for just a moment to unleash potentially game-winning goals but the game advanced to a third 4-minute overtime period. The third time was a charm for Joe Pompo as he found himself leaving his defender in the dust and charged straight on towards the cage. Pompo then cranked a low left-hander that found the back of the net sending the Wildcat contingent home happy and with a big sigh of relief knowing they "Dodged" a bullet.

  1 2 3 4 ot1 ot2 ot3 final
West Genesse 1 2 1 1 0 0 1 6
Baldwinsville 1 1 1 2 0 0 0 5
Schmidt 2-1, Pompo 2-0, C. Donahue 1-0, Mazzoni 1-0, Cost 0-1
SAVES: Galloway 11
Click on an image below to view a game highlight Quicktime movie
Schmidt with the put back Donahue scores Pompo lights it up
Schmidt with his 2nd Mazzoni off the fast break Pompo with the game winner