SUNDAY, DECEMBER 3, 2006
HNA TIER 3 FALL/WINTER LEAGUE
PHANTASMOS vs. MEATWADS
Special Report by Tedd Vanadilok
Phantasmos 4 – Meatwads 7
BENSENVILLE, IL – Playing a consistent 45 minutes has
not been a strength for Los Phantasmos this season. For the
fourth consecutive game, Los Phantasmos has given up the most
goals in the third period. The Meatwads rattled off a trio
of goals in the final fifteen to grind up Los Phantasmos 7-4.
Also, the good guys have not been able to maintain leads or
break ties in their favor. The match was tied 4-4 before the
Meatwads ratcheted up their goal total to seven.
Compared to the first meeting of the season when they had
only two skaters on the bench, the Meatwads rolled out a bigger
bench last night. In addition to the difference in bench depth
was the difference in physicality the Meatwads brought to
the rink. In the first game, sportsmanship was had all the
way around. But in game two, sportsmanship was an afterthought
as both teams squared off verbally and physically throughout
the match. It did not help matters that the penalties were
lopsidedly against Los Phantasmos (ten to the Meatwads four)
allowing things to easily get out of hand. And out of hand
the game started to get near the final buzzer.
Back to actual game play, though. After putting up 40 plus
shots in each of the previous two games, Los Phantasmos could
only muster 14 shots against the Meatwads. In the two matches
this season against the Meatwads, Los Phantasmos released
just 31 total shots.
Despite the low shot output by the team overall, Randy Cochran
had a great night offensively as he scored two goals and assisted
on another. His first goal was the result of a solid forecheck
along the right boards that created a turnover. Cochran gobbled
up the turnover and roofed the puck to get Los Phantasmos
on the board.
Craig Sonnenschein struck later with his second goal of the
campaign with a left-wing drive that Cochran began in the
neutral zone.
Ross Gerbasi scored his team-leading ninth goal of the season
after forward-turned-blueliner Jeremy Campbell kept in a Meatwad
clearing attempt and fired it to the slot. Jockeying for the
puck left of the net against a Wad of Meat, Gerbasi stripped
the puck free and banked it off of the right post and in.
Cochran notched his second goal of the night with a one-timer
from the left slot. Again creating offense from his spot on
the point, Campbell tethered a beautiful pass down to Cochran
who was waiting to unleash his one-timer. On the play, Cully
Johnston earned his first point of his Phantasmos career.
Now, scrolling forward to the end of the game when tempers
were flaring and taunts were flying. With the physical play
and tension escalating as the minutes ticked away, a fierce
battle for the puck ensued between Sonnenschein and one of
the bigger Meatwad skaters. The Meatwads were assessed the
only penalty and, as a result, were clamoring for Sonnenschein
to be banished to the box too. After Sonnenschein took the
following faceoff, another hulking Wad of Meat gave him a
love tap. With no whistle, play continued until the same Meatwad
got into it with Dan Phillips. (Un)fortunately for Los Phantasmos,
Tedd Vanadilok was on the ice too and had a few words, and
of course shoves, for the menacing Meatwad. A second Meatwad
came in to aid his teammate by pushing Vanadilok away. Instinctually,
Vanadilok pushed back but did so with the glove that had a
stick still in it. As he gave the second Meatwad a retaliatory
push, Vanadilok's stick inadvertantly hit the top of the Meatwad's
left shoulder pad sparking the entire Meatwad team to erupt.
At this point in the game, there were only a few seconds left
on the clock. One final faceoff lead to no on-ice antics.
But during the traditional handshake line and in the area
between the locker rooms, the Meatwads were still irate over
the errant stick and delivered such messages as "If you
want to play that way, we'll play you that way!" Luckily,
no post-game fireworks were set off. However, round three
should be intense.
GAME NOTES: Los Phantasmos went 0 for 4 on the PP and 8 for
10 on the PK; Cochran (2-1) collected 3 points while Campbell
(0-2) racked up a pair of assists.