Spiders bite Dogs — Send them running

Dec. 19, 2009

The team arrived at the palace of Richfield 1 with all the equipment safe and sound. The locker room was buzzing with talks of the suspension appeals and the previous contest with the Sled Dogs. This would be the last game for the Spiders in 2009 and expectations for a victory were high.

The Spiders jumped on the back of the Dogs early when the Maietta-Schliesman-Thorson trio combined for their first of two goals. The jubilation lasted throughout most of the first period until a disputed goal was notched for the Dogs. Video replay was invoked and the kicking claim from Dow was not upheld because a camera angle could not prove the allegation.

Following a stirring, inspirational speech from Schliesman and Cagle, the Spiders came out and traded goals with the Dogs. The second Spider goal of the night was provided by the Maietta-Schliesman-Thorson line and the third was brought about by the tic-tac-toe passing of the Hilden-Lindsley-Bedessem. Dow was beaten badly on a blast from the point for the Sled Dog’s second goal. He also made some outlandish claim of a screen on the third goal during his post-game comments. Unconfirmed reports were that his wife was blowing kisses at him just as the puck slid past his feet.

With only a few minutes remaining in the second period, it appeared that the blast from Tromiczak might have knocked out the Dogs’ goalie for the game. Following Shawn’s near figure-skating twists and turns, he broke into the open and let one fly from the blue line that caught Dogs’ goalie, Beabee, in the throat and he went down. Medical personnel rushed to his aide but he was able to return. It was this terrifying experience that paved the way for Tromiczak to score the fourth and deciding goal 6:57 into the third period. He was assisted on the game winner by Armagost and Tim Stalpes.

The Dogs stepped up their attack in the final ten minutes, however, the adjustment to another defender proved to be too much. When the standings are updated, the Spiders will retain their first-place position with the Warriors tracking right behind them. Spiders look to keep in front when they take on the Muskies following the two-week holiday break.

Attendance: 4