by Strongsville, OH- Strongsville goes back to .500 with a 5-4 victory over Holy Name on Sunday morning propelled by 3 goals from Will ‘Frozen’ Grozan.
Grozan started his hat-trick just over two minutes into the opening frame as he skated down the center of the ice to slot the puck into the back of the net to give Strongsville a 1-0 advantage. Holy Name would equalize soon after as Reid Faehner scored off an assist from Braxton Bartone. Just over three minutes later, Grozan would score his second goal of the opening period with assists from Jackson Niedermeyer and Sebastian Hood. The score would remain 2-1 going into the second period, but Holy Name would begin without Joey Wieland who was sent to the box for 5 minutes due to a check into the boards close to the Holy Name bench.
Strongsville was unable to capitalize on their power play in large part due to Emily Sefchik in net for the Green Wave. The ‘Silent Assassin’ once again remained a brick wall en route to a 39 save performance. Holy Name would have the next power play as Strongsville top scorer Brett Kappel was sent to the box for 2 minutes due to a cross check. A few minutes after his return, they found their 3rd goal of the afternoon as Kappel found the back of the net to extend the Mustangs’ lead to 3-1. With 3:45 left in period two, Holy Name would bring the game back within one after Bartone scored off an assist from Faehner to make it 3-2. With 1:19 left to play in the second period, Kappel got sent to the box for 10 minutes due to abuse as stated by the official score sheet.
To begin the final period, Ryan Shostek got sent to the box for cross checking. It was right after this Holy Name power play that Strongsville found their 4th goal of the afternoon as Eric Dubsky slotted it home. Holy Name wasted no time getting the goal right back as Andrew Norris was able to convert his 1 on 1 chance that was created by Wieland to make it 4-3. With 6:13 left to play, Faehner got sent to the box for a hook. This power play was the spark the Mustangs needed as Grozan completed the hat-trick with assists from Dubsky and Dakota Hood. However, the fight from Holy Name didn’t stop as Tommy Cardenas made it 5-4 off an assist from Norris. Holy Name would have one final opportunity as Dubsky got sent to the box for 2 minutes for hooking, but the power play ended early as Cardenas got called for a trip. Dubsky was able to re-enter with 1:37 on the clock while Cardenas had to wait until there were 48 seconds left. One last ditch effort shot from Shane Triscari slid just wide of the net to seal the victory for the Mustangs 5-4.
This contest saw plenty of tempers flare, many shots, and even a Strongsville goalkeeping change in the second period which saw JP Purtell sub in for Cole Clark. Strongsville now sits at 5-4 while Holy Name is still in search of their first regular season win since the program came back.
Holy Name Key Players
#8 Reid Faehner: 1 Goal, 1 Assist
#18 Andrew Norris: 1 Goal, 1 Assist
#55 Braxton Bartone: 1 Goal, 1 Assist
Strongsville Key Players
#7 Eric Dubsky: 1 Goal, 1 Assist
#12 Will Grozan: 3 Goals
#15 Brett Kappel: 1 Goal
Player of the Game: Will Grozan
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