Spiders cash in on Gold Rush, win 4–2 at Aldrich

Jan. 23, 2011

The Spiders faced off against the Gold Rush for the second time this season, and the Gold Rush were coming fresh off their second win of the season (both over the Chaos).

The Gold Rush came to play, keeping it close throughout, with Rush goalie Scott Anderson keeping them in the game. Plus, the Rush reignited the Spiders’ Third-Period Doldrums™, potting two on Fransen in the third, who has yet to get a shutout thanks to his porous D corps in front.

With precisely half (or so) of the roster having played in earlier games Sunday, including one at none other than at east-suburban classic Aldrich, home of the Pioneers, the Spiders took a while to find the pep in their step (and skates).

Despite solid chances throughout, the Spiders found the back of the net only once in the first. With a blistering Flannery changeup from the point, deflected in by a waiting Eric Schlais, camped at the left doorstep. D-man Schroeder, trying to impress his former Ice Sages teammates who had stuck around the Aldrich bleachers (capacity 3,400), found the back of the penalty box gate at 5:15.

The Spiders started out with a bang-bang play on the first shift of the second, with D-man Litton sending up the boards to LW Cison, to Vandenberghe who made it look pretty. Spiders up 2–0. Throughout though, the Gold Rushers were digging away, but only coming up with Fransen’s glove or the post. Then, at 2:46 remaining, Litton found Cison again through the neutral zone, and Cison closed the deal top shelf, giving the Spiders a 3–0 margin to close out the second.

As has been the pattern for much of the season, though supposedly cured last week, the Spiders backchecking tends to break down early and often in the third period, and tonight was no exception. Just 3:21 into the third, the Rush’s Tom DeBleeckere’s “around-the-net” presence all night finally paid off for him, cutting the Spiders’ lead to two. It took four minutes, the Spiders answered back, with Schroeder to C C. Yard to Vandenberghe again, who this time made it look “pretty.” Linemate Cison then came seconds away from a vicious delay-of-game penalty in trying to convince the officiating crew to check the video review on the goal.

When the game finally resumed, the Rush’s Matt Benson got the gate for tripping. By this time, the Ice Sages (and Maroons) crowd had long vacated the arena, given the late-night start (9:40). Despite solid O-zone control and numerous chances, the Gold Rush PK held tight.

That PK gave them the momentum for yet another odd-man Rush, with the aforementioned Benson beating Fransen five-hole.

The remaining 2:23 was spent in the offensive zone, with the Spiders killing off time cycling and shooting, and holding out for the win.

Shots were 28 (3, 7, and a whopping 18 in the third) on Fransen, including at least three pure breakaways, duly stuffed, and the Spiders sent 33 to Anderson (12, 12, 9). Yes, you read it right. We have actual shots by period, thanks to AHA scorekeeper extraordinaire Paul McWithey, who supplies not only paper scoresheets, but the perfect music soundtrack over the Aldrich PA.

McWithey also commended the teams on setting a new AHA record for fastest game ever played, clocking in at just 1:08 for the entire match.

The Spiders add to the streak, now with 11 wins, and will next face the Puck Hounds, who are hot on the Spiders’ trail, at 8–2–1 and coming off a penalty-filled OT win Saturday night over the Royals, who have since dropped to fourth after being in second when they played the Spiders last week. As Doc Emerick so eloquently put today, “In the West, I’ve never seen a race this tight at this point in the season involving this many teams.” Yep, he was referring to the D1 West clogged middle, where just six points separate five teams.

With the 2009–10 D2 champion Puck Hounds, the previous game was rescheduled due to a little bit of snow, so this will be the first time this Winter season the two teams have met. The lone previous matchup came in the AHA Fall Tourney, where the Spiders won 5–1.

It’s an early start at New Hope next Sunday, 6:45 p.m.