Wildcats Walk into a Hornets' Nest - Prevail 14-10 in Fourth Quarter Surge
Playing on real grass for only the second time this season, Kimball Union was pressed throughout the entire day by an athletic and determined Proctor Academy Hornets team. Playing inspired in front of a Spring Parents’ Weekend home crowd, Proctor jumped to a two goal lead before attack man Jamie Schmidt (Shelburne, VT) buried a Ryan Hayes (Darien, CT) feed from behind the Proctor cage. One minute later sophomore Cody Danforth (Milton, VT) buried another Hayes feed to tie the score at 2-2. With numerous Wildcat opportunies squandered, Proctor continued to play aggressively as the first period ended in the 2-2 deadlock. Inspired and confident, Proctor opened the second period scoring to take a early lead only to see it dissipate a minute later when Scott Crawford (Mystic, CT) scored an unassisted goal. Schmidt then gave the Wildcats the lead with a great open field assist going to midfielder Ryan Henry (Norwood, MA). Speedster Justin Wright (Waccabuc, NY) struck quickly again to give the Wildcats a two goal lead as he inverted and beat his short stick defender on a lightning dodge from behind. In what might have been the turning point, Danforth scored his second goal of the game unassisted to put the Wildcats three goals up. Proctor stretched but would not break as they scored yet again to keep victory within reach. The determined Wildcats continued to push as David Robinson (Lexington, MA) scored on a Crawford assist followed by a Crawford goal from Danforth. With the game seemingly in control of Kimball Union., Proctor struck swiftly with two quick goals to end the half with an 8-6 Wildcat lead.
Proctor came out firing in the top of the second half as they registered two unanswered goals to tie the game. With the Wildcats struggling but still determined, attack man Ryan Hayes gave the lead back to the black and orange with an assist going to co-captain Evan Roberts (West Cornwall, VT). Ryan Henry then scored his second goal of the game with yet another assist from Hayes followed by a second goal by Roberts and the assist again going to Hayes to end the third 11- 8 in favor of Kimball Union. Once again the Wildcats were postured to break open the game as Roberts scored his third goal of the game unassisted. True to form for the afternoon, Proctor scored quickly to still keep the game in reach only to be quickly answered by Ryan Hayes with a sweet assist going to Robinson. Proctor continued to battle as they doggedly pushed their tenth and last goal past Kimball Union goalie Robert Bleakley (Lexington, MA) who had eight saves on the day. In a battle of pride and will power, Evan Roberts scored the last goal of the afternoon with the assist going to midfielder Wright.
The close defensive unit of Brian Orr (Medford, MA), Colin Young (Dedham, MA), and Co-captain Trevor McGraw (Meriden, NH) played hard throughout the afternoon with valuable and critical contributions going to both Nate Plummer (Meriden, NH) and Garrett Dyer (Williston, MA). Long stick middies Andrew Richardson (Lancaster, MA) and Brent Bourgeois (New Haven, VT) continued to play vital roles in riding, face off wing play and settled defense situations. The Wildcats were penalized four ties on the day with the MDD unit giving up one EMO goal to Proctor. Kimball Union had two EMO opportunities, neither of which translated into goals. The face off circle was a war zone throughout the afternoon as Roberts and Todd Rowley (Billerica, MA) garnered 15 victories while conceding 13 to a dogged Proctor face off unit.
The Wildcats face a tough Tilton School squad on Wednesday, April 25th in Tilton, NH. The face off is at 2:30.
