BTA Needs OT to Beat Isla Carroll
By Alex Webbe
In a back and forth match that saw the game tied no less than five times, BTA took advantage of an Isla Carroll miscue in the final chukker of play to tie it up. Just over a minute into the sudden death overtime chukker, BTA’s Pablo Spinacci broke loose to score the winning goal to secure the team a berth in the semifinals of the 2009 Ylvisaker Cup on Thursday afternoon against Patagones.
BTA team captain Kelly Beal was replaced on the roster by daughter K. C. Beal, but the team didn’t seem to skip a beat.
“She played well,†said BTA 7-goaler Hector Galindo. “She was an important part of the win.â€
Isla Carroll’s Sugar Erskine opened the scoring by converting a penalty shot in the first chukker that was answered by a like conversion from Galindo. Owen Rinehart put Isla Carroll up 2-1 on a goal from the field before Galindo’s second penalty goal of the game evened it at 2-2 to end the chukker.
Isla Carroll returned to the field in the second chukker with a renewed attack. Fouls by BTA gave Erskine two penalty shots, both of which he converted for a 4-2 lead. Pablo Spinacci managed to keep BTA from getting shut out with a goal from the field, but trailed 4-3.
The BTA defense managed to shut down the Isla Carroll offense in the third chukker while getting goals from Jeff Blake and Galindo. For the first time in the game BTA held a lead, 5-4.
Isla Carroll seemed to have reorganized at halftime and came out with guns blazing. Four consecutive goals from the Isla Carroll players were complimented by near flawless defense as they went up 8-4.
Goals from Blake and Spinacci cut the lead to a single goal in the fifth period, 8-7, but Erskine showed up again for Isla Carroll. The South African 7-goaler scored a goal from the field to give Isla Carroll a 9-7 advantage to end the chukker.
BTA continued to press its attack in the sixth chukker, resulting in a couple of Isla Carroll fouls. Blake converted two early penalty shots to tie it at 9-9 before Erskine scored to push Isla Carroll in front10-9 with time running out.
BTA continued to press the Isla Carroll goal when the umpire’s whistle blew. BTA was awarded a penalty hit in the waning seconds of regulation play. Blake converted the shot and forced the game into overtime.
“We just kept the same game plan,†said Galindo, “and when they made a mistake, we jumped on it.â€
After a brief intermission, play resumed in overtime. BTA took control of the ball from the throw-in, but Isla Carroll wrested it away. BTA reclaimed the ball and with just over a minute into overtime, Spinacci broke away and scored the winning goal.
Jeff Blake led BTA with five goals. Hector Galindo and Pablo Spinacci scored three goals apiece in the win.
Sugar Erskine set the pace for Isla Carroll with six goals. Owen Rinehart scored three times and Todd Offen added a single goal. Isla Carroll.
Tournament play will continue on Wednesday with two semifinal matches in the George Haas Cup at 1pm and 3pm. The semifinals of the Ylvisaker Cup will take place on Thursday with BTA facing Patagones at 1pm and San Saba meeting Mt. Brilliant at 3pm.