GTLAX Game Report - May 4 vs Eastridge

Party people in the house put your hands together and give it up for Renee Wyzykowski, sister of Thunder attackman Clay Wyzykowski, for her sultry anthem debut at Thunder Field. Randy Jackson said it was "a-ight", but this announcer has only three words... welcome to Hollywood... and how about a warm Thunder shout-out to their dad Eric who was celebrating his 50th birthday!

Did anyone happen to see the dark cloud looming over Athena Stadium on Tuesday nite? While it only released a few drops of rain, it was hanging over the Thunder stickmen's heads all game long. There were missed passes, dropped balls, and flags a flying all over the place, leaving fans scratching their heads as the stripes struggled to keep things moving. Throughout the Cirque de slow game, Thunder simply could not catch a break as they went to the box 15 times, including twice in regulation for a 3 minute non-releaseable stick violation and twice in OT on marginal calls, compared to just 6 fouls called on Eastridge all tolled.

There were so many mystery calls that we could have used Fred, Velma, Daphne, Shaggy, and Scooby to help figure it all out. Speaking of Scooby, we did see quite a few appearances by Chris D'Ambrosia chipping in and helping out on D with Thunder's many man down situations. Eastridge managed to capitalize four times on their abundance of EMOs (that's Extra Man Opportunities) but Thunder could only convert once. When all was said and done, 6 periods and some 3 hours after the first face, Eastridge midfielder Mike Mortillaro scored to lift the Lancers (1-9) to their first W of the year in sudden death double overtime.

By the numbers, Thunder owned the face-off circle winning two-thirds of the draws -15 for 22 - and also winning the ground ball battle 58 to 39, led by Gino Prestigiacomo (15gb) and Brandon Cheeseman (13gb). Ethan Printy scooped up 10 for Eastridge. Both Rudgers (9s/11ga/54mins) and Ennis (14s/10ga/54mins) played well in the nets, but Ennis held out for the win.

First quarter was all Lancers as they recorded 3 markers by Stewart, Hess, and Printy, while Thunder fumbled about. But with 2 secs left on the clock, G-Pres muscled one by Ennis to put his team on the board. Giruzzi (3g-2a) tallied for the Lancers to open the second but Gino (3g-2a) answered right back for Thunder with another ISO finish right off the face. Then it was Mortillaro taking a turn for Eastridge and back to Tyler Gorgione (3g-1a) with a wraparound for Thunder. Next up to the plate was Eric Hostetter (1g-1a) hitting the twine for Thunder assisted by Andrew Prestigiacomo, principal of PCS Senior Networking. Mortillaro (3g-1a), Printy (2g) and Burley got the next 3 for Eastridge and then Gorgione burned one by Ennis to finish off the quarter, assisted by E-Hots. The play was originated by Vyper as he pulled a long pole to the corner and beat him back to the box before dishing to Hots who quickly bumped it to Gorgione for the shot. Nice teamwork boys!

Tried to get Renee to do an encore at the half but she declined, oh well, maybe next time :) Must have been a good talk by Coach Perry as his team came out and dominated the third with 3 unanswered goals to tie the game at 8s. First up was Tyler Gorgione burying his third on the night, then it was Matt Keough, assisted by Gino, and finally, after being snake-bit the entire game, Dan Vyverberg beat Ennis with a bounce shot under the crossbar off the fastbreak feed from Gorgione.

Fourth quarter featured the stylings of Chris Giruzzi with a pair for Eastridge and G-Pres with 1 and 1 for Greece, as he setup a goal by Thunder attackman Anthony Merola. And so it was knotted at 10s goiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiinnnnnnnnnnn to overtime! Thunder had their chances in the first OT but no dice. Unfortunately for Greece, Mortillaro got loose to win it for Eastridge midway through the second and final overtime period.

Your PCS Senior Networking stars of the game for Greece would be:
1. B, Brandon Cheeseman that is, who intercepted countless Lancer passes with his goliath reach, shut down numerous fast breaks and rushed for over 300 yards. He was like Visa - everywhere we needed him to be!
2. Tyler Gorgione, who played well at both ends of the field, forcing turnovers, moving the ball, hitting hard and scoring (3g-1a) to boot. It is also noteworthy that he has one of the largest personal fan bases in Section V.
3. Gino Prestigiacomo, who was a key contributor from winning face offs to playing physical all over the field and posting impressive numbers (15gb and 5pts).

Your PCS Senior Networking stars of the game for Eastridge would be:
1. Chris Giruzzi with 3g-2a for 5 points.
2. Mike Mortillaro with 3g-1a for 4 points, including the winner in 2OT.
3. TJ Ennis with 14s/10ga/54mins in the cage.

Thunder is on the road to ER for round 2 with the bombers today, Thursday 6-May, a late game under the lights, 7:45pm start. Be there or miss out on all the heart pounding, fist pumping action as Thunder attempts to break their 4-game slide.