KUA defeats Brewster 8-6, Wins Lakes Region Title

In a much anticipated game, KUA and Brewster, both undefeated in the Lakes Region, faced-off for the 2009 title. KUA’s defense, playing its best game of the season, withstood a last quarter run to preserve the victory and give the Wildcats an 8-6 win and the title.  Goalie Jake Gray and company were sensational all game, especially in the first half, limiting the high powered Brewster offense to just two goals in the first 24 minutes.  Neither John Planer, Juan Breton, or Kevin Vieira gave up ground to the opposing attack and long poles Franklin Boswell-Taylor, Cullen Boyle, Ben Wyskiel, and Taylor Cowan played tough defense against Brewster’s explosive midfielders.  Brewster won the opening face-off and tried to attack the KUA defense from all angels. KUA held their ground, stopping the Brewster attack from gaining momentum. At 5:16 of the first quarter KUA struck first when Justin Wright beat his man on a solo effort and bounced a shot in to give the Wildcats the lead.  Steve Kontos won the ensuing face-off and after patient possession, Cody Danforth came around the left side of the cage and found Wright, again, to give KUA a 2-0 lead.  Brewster was determined to get on the board in the first quarter and finally found a way to beat the stingy KUA defense to narrow the score to 2-1.  Alex Liebert started the KUA scoring run early in the second quarter on a great individual effort, beating his defenseman stuffing, then the ball low under the Brewster goalie. Then, Kyle Curry displayed his marksmanship with KUA’s next three goals. At 9:20, Danforth intercepted a clearing pass and fed Curry streaking down the middle who released a laser over the goalie’s shoulder. At 4:51 Curry dodged to the left and fired an outside shot for his second. Then, a minute later, again off a dodge, Curry netted his third in so many minutes to give KUA a 6-1 lead.  Brewster scored its second goal with only 21 seconds on the clock to send both teams to the half with the Wildcats in the lead 6-2.  Both teams tightened up their defenses and the third quarter went scoreless until Wright, off a feed from Kontos, scored his third goal with less than a minute remaining in the quarter.  Brewster’s offense awoke in the fourth quarter, scoring three unanswered goals to narrow the score to 7-5.  With Brewster pressing and KUA digging in its heels, Kontos again came around found Ben Hayden on the far side who then ripped a shot to give KUA a three goal lead again. Brewster continued to run at the Wildcats and managed, again, to score to keep the game tight to the end.  The Wildcats hung on and time expired, KUA 8-Brewster 6.

KUA (10-3) continues its season on Saturday against New Hampton.