The WHLAX U11 Black team faced their toughest challenge of the season this week in a very exciting game against a strong team from Cohasset.
With the Panthers leading for most of the game, Cohasset surged back to tie the game early in the fourth quarter. W-H then exchanged goals with them over the course of the last five minutes, with Cohasset scoring with two seconds left on the clock, to knot the score at six apiece. A two-minute sudden-death overtime period could not break the tie.
Though the dreams of a perfect season were swept away, the tie does keep the unbeaten streak alive (5-0-1.) Kyle Lydon played very well in his debut performance in goal.
The defense also played well, led once again by Dan Kelly, Josh Penny and Dylan Leighton, who made Cohasset work to earn every opportunity they had. The midfielders did a great job, with tenacious back checking by Cooper Leonard, AJ Carr, Luke Sideropoulos and Owen Lydon. These guys pushed the play to the edge of the field all game, pinning Cohasset down, and keeping their offense at bay.
The Panther goals came from the sticks of Ryan Kennedy Dylan Thomas and Nick Murphy. Bobby Caliri, Mike Shea and Jason Bannon showed a lot of hustle up front and had several quality scoring chances.
Next week, the Panthers are home to face Marshfield.