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Jaguars stun Pirates on improbable goal

By Murray Gleffe, Correspondent


 

ASHWAUBENON-Tyler Roethlisberger was in the right place at the right time for the Jaguar hockey team.

With just 0.1 seconds remaining in the game, he incredibly punched the puck over the goal-line to force overtime.

Joe Deboth then scored just 50 seconds into the extra period to propel the Ashwaubenon Jaguars to a 4-3 dramatic win over the Bay Port Pirates Saturday evening (Dec. 9) at the Cornerstone Community Center

โ€œI have never been part of a high school rivalry game like this where we scored with that little time left on the clock,โ€ said Matt Golden, Jaguar hockey coach. โ€œItโ€™s an amazing feeling. We had kids in the locker room in tears because they put so much into this game.โ€

Liam Golden and Graham Manders added the other two goals for the Jaguars.

The Pirates and Jaguars came out in the rivalry game and took it to each other at the midpoints and the boards.

The difference was the Pirates played much cleaner hockey in the first period than did the Jaguars.

The Jaguars found themselves down 1-0 with 13:27 left after the Pirates Bob Tilot connected on an even strengthย  slapper from in close.

The team really dug themselves a hole towards the end of the period when on two separate occasions they were down 5 on 3 to the Pirates on the ice.

Fortunately for the Jaguars, they got out of both and only trailed 1-0 after the first period.

โ€œI feel like when we play even-strength hockey, we can skate with anybody,โ€ added Golden. โ€œUnfortunately, in an emotional game, itโ€™s hard to get kids to see that. We did a much better of controlling our skating the final two periods, and making better decisions.โ€

The second period saw the Pirates take it to the Jaguars on the offensive end for the first eight minutes of the period. It didnโ€™t result in any goals because of the outstanding goaltending by Matt Piontkowski during that stretch.

With 8:07 remaining in the second period, Roethlisberger took the puck at center ice, wheeled around the Pirate defense, and flicked a beautiful centering pass to Manders who lifted the puck over Pirate goaltender Riley Baye.

The tie game didnโ€™t last long after Pirate defensemen Jake Boxer deflected a shot into the net. Piontkowski was screened on the play, and it put the Pirates back up 2-1 with 3:08 left in the middle stanza.

The Jaguars showed their mental fortitude by responding back with a goal of their own.

Golden got away from his man on the boards, went coast to coast on a breakaway, and put a move on Baye at the very last minute to put the puck in the back of the net to even the score at two apiece.

Going into the final period, the Pirates held a slight edge (10-9) with shots on goal.

The third period lived up to its billing.

With 700 plus in attendance, the Pirates struck first with 8:51 remaining in the contest when Junior forward Aaron Ribar went top shelf on Piontkowski to give his team the 3-2 lead.

Each team received numerous looks down the stretch but neither could punch one through the stingy goaltending that each squad had.

With just under a minute, the Jaguars pulled their goaltender to have a man advantage.

Shot after shot came up empty until Roethlisberger was the recipient of the game tying goal with one tenth of a second left

The unthinkable scenario had just played out for the Jaguars in a fraction of time.

The officials gathered around for a minute, but with no instant replay in high school hockey, they ruled it a goal.

The Jaguars took all of their energy and momentum into the overtime session, and after just 50 seconds had elapsed on the clock Joe Deboth knocked home the game-winner.

Jubilation set in for the Jaguars as they celebrated with their fellow students over at the boards.

โ€œTyler is a three-sport athlete and just makes plays. He hates to lose and is the ultimate competitor,โ€ said Golden. โ€œHe gave us everything he had out on that ice for 51 minutes. He is our leader. Iโ€™m so proud of the kids and our staff today.โ€

The Jaguars improve to 5-1 on the season and will host D.C. Everest on Dec. 14.

 

Ashwaubenon/Bay Port Box Score

Ashwaubenon 0,2,1,1-4

Bay Port ย  ย  ย  ย  ย  1,1,1,0-3

 

 

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