Spiders rough up the Warriors

Feb. 2, 2008

The Spiders fought and almost literally against the Warriors. In a battle that landed five roughing penalties, the Spiders kept their cool and thus got the victory in a capacity parking lot and near-capacity St. Louis Park arena.

The players and fans were greeted with the St. Louis Park finest as they entered the parking lot for tonight’s match. There was overflow parking, security at the entrance, and a police escort as the fans and players left the building.

Scoring started in the first early with a Brad Butalla goal on an assist from Dave Schliesman. The Spiders followed in the second with a goal from big Jim Green, assisted by Dave Schliesman. In the third the Warriors put an early point on the board, but the Spiders scored quickly on a goal from Dave Schliesman assisted by Butalla and Green.

In the meantime, things were heating up in the corners like a AWA cage match. The Warriors physical style began to take a toll on their own scoring ability. They racked up 8 minutes of roughing penalties, quite frankly they should have had more. The Spiders tactfully got our licks in while the refs were distracted, but maintained their cool to take the victory.

The Spiders saw good goaltending from sub Dirk Jacobson and excellent defense from Cagle, Thorson, Stalpes and Delsing.

We had good breakouts and created many scoring opportunities. Cagle just missed on a breakaway, Smith came close on an open net and the Spiders pressed the warriors like an old-fashioned AWA handicap match.

Spiders-Warriors attendance: 37

Benilde-SLP attendance: Capacity crowd estimated at 1,200