GTLAX Game Report - May 1

Thunder LAXers dropped their third straight with an 11-10 road loss to Batavia on Saturday as they slide to 4-4. Can somebody please apply some pressure to stop the bleeding? Both keepers played well in the nets, recording 15 saves apiece, but it was Blue Devils cager Theo Hill who would walk away with the W. Thunder went 0 for 7 on their EMO, unacceptable. Gotta work on that. Too much standing around, not enough movement and not enough shots. Thunder won the battle of the ground balls led by Brandon Cheeseman with 15 and Nick Caracci put his patented Caracci crunch on display once again.

Tyler Lepore cracked the seal with the first goal of the game for Thunder that was soon followed up with another by Anthony Merola (2g), assisted by Gino Prestigiacomo (2g-2a). Batavia closed out the first quarter with a pair of goals to even things up at 2's. Thunder traded goals with the Blue Devils in the second as well, but Batavia went to the half with a 1-goal lead, 5-4. Scoring for Thunder were Tyler Gorgione (2g-1a), assisted by G-Pres and Dan Vyverberg (3g-1a), assisted by Joe Trimboli. Vyverberg netted Thunder's lone goal in the third assisted by Gorgione, but Batavia mushed on with three tallies of their own to make it 8-5 going into the final frame.

Blue Devils banged home 2 early to start the fourth and it seemed as if they were going really open things up, but Thunder dug deep and found enough resolve to counter and keep themselves in the game. Vyverberg was hit by friendly fire while Standing on the crease as a shot from fellow attackman Matt Keough struck him in the arm and fell at his feet. Vyper scooped it up, turned, and beat Hill for his third to hang on. Next up was G-Pres going ISO twice to get it to 11-8. Gorgione added a ripper to chip away and it was 11-9. Vyper fed Merola cutting backdoor and he finished to make it 11-10. Last play of the game, Thunder got the ball at their end line, trailing by 1 goal, with just 13 seconds remaining. Dan Conway legged it past midfield, hit Matt Keough at the box then Keough bumped it to Vyverberg who immediately found Merola on the crease and just as time was about to expire, Merola fired at close range, but he got all pipe and the horn sounded. No goal. Game over. Drive home safely everyone. It was an exciting photo finish for sure, but it would have been even sweeter with a buzzer-beater!

Come on out and cheer the boys on Tuesday, 4-May, as they host Eastridge, 5pm @ Athena Stadium, and attempt to get their mojo back. Guest announcers, vocalists, men, women, children, foreign dignitaries, domestic dignitaries, athletic directors, and half-time performers are more than welcome. Bring it on!