Spiders close out 2006–07 season with win over Knights

March 22, 2007

The Spiders skated for the final time this season, having been knocked out of playoff contention early this month. Tonight, facing the Knights for the second time this season, the Spiders exercised their offense, with three players having multi-point games.

It was also a night of firsts: Dave Schaefer’s first (and second) Spiders goal; Jeff Keacher’s first Spiders point; and Jim “No Pass” Maietta setting a D2 Spiders single-game goal record at 4.

The first period would start out with three unanswered goals by the Spiders, who then apparently sat back to relax, which gave the Knights a chance for two quick goals just 41 seconds apart, and cutting the Spiders’ lead to just one. A hooking penalty drawn by Jeremy Litton would put the Spiders on the Power Play in the closing minutes of the first, though nothing would come of it.

In the second though, the Spiders turned the offense back on, and found the back of the Knights’ net four times, again unanswered until just a minute remaining in the second period, where the Knights scored, to make it 7–3 to close out the second.

In the third, the Spiders would get two more, allow three more, and have a couple sits in the penalty box, one offsetting. And, notably, one not called, when Mark Franklin and a Knight exchanged pleasantries in front of the Spiders bench.

The final score of the final game of the season: 9–6 Spiders.

Scoring summary:

• First period:
  • Jim Maietta, from Dave Schliesman
  • Dave Schaefer (first Spiders goal!), from Dave Schliesman (again)
  • Ted Samsel, from Doug Thorson and goalkeeper Jeff Keacher (first AHA point!)
• Second period:
  • Jim Maietta (again), unassisted
  • Dave Schaefer (second Spiders goal!), from Ryan Herman
  • Jim Maietta (again), from Dave Schliesman (again)
  • Brian Armagost, from Dave Schliesman (again)
• Third period:
  • Jim Maietta (again), unassisted
  • Dave Schliesman, unassisted

Penalties

• Third period:
  • Brian Armagost, tripping
  • Ryan Herman, roughing (offsetting), for protecting the goalie
  • Jim Maietta, for high-sticking

Not on the penalty list: Michael Armel or Paul LaCosse. Or Mark Franklin, for his slight altercation.

With the win (and first assist), goalkeeper Jeff Keacher saw 30 shots (10, 10, 10), stopping 24, and the Spiders put 34 shots (14, 10, 10) on the Knights’ goalkeeper.