Spiders stage epic rally to beat Gators

Dec. 11, 2014

The tail of two halves is an often quoted sports cliché. A thing about clichés and generalizations is that they are often correct. Tonight would fit a lot of clichés.

Seven shots and eight minutes is all it took for the Spiders to be down 5-0. This would have been a classic pull the goalie night, but, hey we are talking about adult hockey with no other option on the bench. The glimmer of hope was with three minutes left in the first period Adelman started the first of many and put in an unassisted goal to end the period with a 5-1 deficit.

Spiders were in shock on the bench. Hank Long was done for the game and the goaltending on shaky ground, the bench mood was that of installing calm. Chatter flying around was centered on one thing. Stop the deluge of scoring and start pecking away at the lead. Everyone’s game needed to pick up and it was the positive approach that righted the ship. One player was over-heard predicting a 6-0 run for the home team.

The second started and it was clear that the Spiders were up for the challenge. The Ice tilted and goals started pouring in against the Gators. Four minutes in, Maietta netted his first of two and he followed it up four minutes later to pull the team to 5-3.

Less than one minute later, Townsend decided to join the scoring by getting his butt in the way of a corner snipe by Jacobsen. Bedessem finished off the second period scoring slamming one home. At the end of period two, Spiders were back to a tie game.

Third period brought much of the same with goals coming from Townsend, Vandenberghe, and Mariani. In the end, puck movement, hustle, and solid goaltending after the shaky start notched a gritty win. What cannot be lost in the win is that eight of the recorded twelve assists came from the defensive four players. This is a testament to a whole team victory. Some believe it to be in the top five comeback of Spiders’ history was enjoyed by most in the locker room.

Jacobsen’s upper body injury is coming along nicely and will likely play. Long is seeking a meeting with the league office and looks to miss the next game against the Mutiny. Spiders are 2-0 against the Mutiny and it appears that it is mostly the same team as they were next year so it looks to be a good match up.

Attendance: 12