Run and gun duel against Gould ends with a KUA 18-12 victory.
KUA traveled to northern Maine to face a talented Gould Academy. Not knowing what to expect going into the contest, KUA had its hands full as they warmed up to play in the rain on a shortened field after a 3 hour drive. Determined to get the win on the road, KUA came out strong, scoring the first two goals in less than three minutes. Senior attack CJ Spencer scored his first of seven goals off a Drew Simoneau feed and then Simoneau sniped the second off feed following a heads up play by long pole midfielder Spencer King. Gould’s talented attack, however, quickly found the mark as well and scored 3 unanswered goals to give them their only lead of the day. KUA’s Eric Wollrath finished a CJ Spencer feed in transition to tie the score. Then Max Abendroth dodged and found Simoneau all alone with time to shoot and score. Moments later, Spencer and Wollrath connected to give KUA a 5-3 lead at the end of the first quarter. Gould stormed back in the second quarter to tie the game off back to back goals. The game’s turning point happened moments later when KUA’s keeper Tim McNair was sent to the box for an illegal body check. Abendroth threw on a chest protector and stepped into the net. On the ensuing play, a Gould shot landed on the back of the net. Abendroth scooped up the ball, and, with Gould’s offense in pursuit, sprinted to the midfield and passed the ball to Sam Wyskiel who beat his man and fed to Wollrath for the goal. Wollrath scored unassisted on the next possession to stretch KUA’s lead to 7-5. Both teams exchanged goals in the final minutes of the first half, giving the Wildcats a 9-7 lead at the half.
The momentum shifted back towards KUA as they scored four unanswered goals to start the third quarter. Ian Timpone scored two of the four, one off a quick pass from Jon Spencer in transition. At the end of three, KUA led 14-9. Both teams continued to battle in the 4th quarter, before the final whistle sounded giving KUA an 18-12 victory.
Miles Hancock, Andrew Kelly, and Patrick Lynch combined to lead the defense and long poles Spencer King and Connor Barrett split the duties in the midfield. Tommy O’brien earned an assist and sophomore midfielders Ryan Lund and Mike Powell hustled on faceoffs, rides and in the defensive zone.
Goalie Tim McNair registered 11 saves.
KUA (3-5) travels to NMH for a 4pm face-off.
