04.12.06 Semi-finals - Game Report vs The Anchor Inn

Finally playing the elusive Anchor Inn, the Gators were ultimately met with a tough loss, and a few bruises to show for it as well. The game began with a goal scored by Anchor Inn at exactly two minutes after the start of play. Just seconds later at 12:33, however, Brian Pasono (17) passed the puck over to Brian Drake (18) passed to John Davie (76) who gave the Gators a little morale boost with their first goal.

Unfortunately, having to keep up with the bevy of Anchor Inn players, the ten men available were unable to keep their opposition at bay, (yuck, yuck: keep Anchor Inn at bay...). The entire second period consisted of hard skating and defense on both sides, but "Hashbrown's" team: the Anchor Inn, managed to squeeze a second goal past Jerry Suplicki (35) with 3:40 left on the clock.

The last period seemed equally as tough, but the Gators' Brian Drake was there to tie it up. At 5:10 in the third period, Pasono passed to Dave Salafia (15), who passed to Drake for the second goal. EIGHT SECONDS LATER, at 5:02, Salafia skated off with a pass made by John Scully (32) right off the draw, and brought the Gators out on top with about five minutes left. It seemed like they'd take the game after a long struggle back to the winning side, but Anchor Inn shocked the (six) onlookers by taking their third goal at 3:38. The night was almost over... it was coming down to less than one minute left, and we all assumed the game would head into overtime. At 57 seconds left, Anchor Inn scored one last lucky shot on Suplicki (35), and won the game, sending them to yet another playoff game, and eventually, to meet the Gators back at the Finals.

On a lighter note, John Davie, obviously missing Greg Williams terribly, fell, was pushed, or just tripped over his own two feet (whatever the excuse was) a whopping seven times! Although Scully only fell once, it was when no one was even close to him, and he landed right on his bum, so it's just as amusing as Davie's high count of the night. Salafia at least had an excuse: he was tackled by another player, and the Anchor Inn brute was sent to the penalty box. It was a rough game for both sides, and the hits were extra hard. It's understandable, therefore, that Jim Suplicki (19) hit back, and was he only Gator to made a visit to the box (twice!) two visits to the penalty box. Anchor Inn just barely out-shot the Gators, just four more than the green team's 30 hits on net. What a close game!!

4-3 loss.

Scoring
Dave Salafia - 1 goal, 1 assist
Brian Drake - 1 goal, 1 assist
John Davie - 1 goal
Brian Pasono - 2 assists

Penalities
Jim Suplicki - 2 penalties


Jerry Suplicki - 30 saves