Wildcats Find Their Rhythm - Prevail Over Hebron Academy 10-5

Playing less than sixteen hours after returning from Andover, MA yesterday evening, the Wildcats proved up to the task as they engaged a physical and determined eight and two Hebron Academy team. The Lumberjacks got on the scoreboard early in the 1^st quarter and continued to press the Kimball Union defense. Hebron scored first again in the second quarter to take a 2-0 lead. Minutes later Robert Bleakley (Lexington, MA) stuffed a point blank Hebron shot and cleared deftly to a streaking KUA middie. On the ensuing possession in the offensive end, David Robinson (Lexington, MA) found Ryan Henry (Norwood, MA) open in the high crease. Henry fired a high shot over the right shoulder of the Hebron goaltender to narrow the score to 2-1. With the momentum shifting in favor of the Wildcats, minutes later Ryan Hayes (Darien, CT) buried a pass from Justin Wright (Waccabuc, NY) into the back of the Hebron net to tie the score. With 1:58 left in the period, Robinson scored the first of his three goals on an extra man offense off an assist from Hayes. Forty seconds later, Hayes assisted Robinson again to give the Wildcats a 4-2 lead going into the half. KUA extended their lead to 8-2 in the third period after scoring four unanswered goals. Evan Roberts (West Cornwall, VT) opened the scoring with an assists from Hayes. Roberts and Hayes connected again midway through the quarter. Hayes earned his third assist of the quarter on an extra man set-up to Jamie Schmidt (Shelburne,VT). KUA extended its lead to 9-3 early in the fourth quarter when Hayes found Robinson alone on the crease. Hebron managed to score two late fourth quarter goals, though with what proved to be one of the most memorable goals of season, Bleakley came out of the goal and fired a 50 yard dart right into the stick of attack man Ryan Hayes who buried the tenth and final KUA goal into the Hebron net.

Kimball Unions’ depth and perseverance proved to be too much for the visiting squad from Lewiston, Maine. Rotating four talented players at close defense and four long-stick middies, KUA played tough, high intensity defense throughout the game. Brian Orr (Medford, MA) shut down Hebron’s star attack man and Colin Young (Dedham, MA), Trevor McGraw (Meriden, NH), and Matt Parker (Shelburne, VT) covered the passing lanes and sliding aggressively to keep the Hebron offense away from the KUA net. Nate Plummer (Meriden, NH) played effective close D on numerous occasions as well. Brent Bourgeois (West Haven, VT) continually forced turnovers in the midfield while Andrew Richardson (Lancaster, MA) picked off a number of Hebron passes in the high crease. Robert Bleakley turned in a stellar performance between the pipes as he made a number of key saves right on his doorstep. His quick outlet passes and precision passing rendered the Hebron ride ineffective.

Evan Roberts won 11/18 face-offs with wing support from Wright, Henry, Parker, Richardson, Bourgeois, and Orr to give the Wildcats ball possession and momentum throughout the contest. The Wildcats improved to 7-5 on the season. They face-off this Wednesday in Northfield, MA against a strong, deep and talented Northfield Mount Hermon squad.