The Victorious Salem Rocks
The Skyline Eagles are in their first full year as a varsity program, but that hasn’t prevented the squad from achieving some success in their first year. Without any seniors on his team (or in the school), coach Nick Zoroya has led Skyline to a 6-4 record. Last night, however, was not the Eagles’ night.
The Eagles took on Salem at Skyline Stadium in Northeast Ann Arbor in front of a crowd of a hundred or so fans – mostly visitors from Salem. Skyline struck first, as Sam Olson buried one past the keeper, but Salem was able to get it right back, and by the end of the first, they held a 3-2 lead.
After scoring both first-quarter goals for Skyline, Sam Olson kept up the torrid pace, putting in a pair of extra-man goals in the second quarter. Hill and Weidner also scored in the frame for Skyline. Salem scored 3 goals of their own in the quarter (and had a fourth waved off), and the teams went into the break tied at six.
Faceoff Battle
After the half, the teams came out with a renewed fire, especially evident at the faceoff X. Skyline’s Dean and Salem’s #22 battled all day, and split the draws about evenly – an accomplishment for the Rocks, given that Dean is around 70% on the year for Skyline. Salem struck first in the second half, as #23 put in his second goal – but Skyline wasn’t quick to back down. They put in 2 of their own in the third, but Salem’s #23 added another, and #6 gave the Rocks a 9-8 lead through 3.
The intensity picked up in the fourth, as both teams had multiple man-up opportunities (but didn’t manage to capitalize). Late in the game, with the Rocks up 12-10, the Skyline keeper attempted a Gilman Clear, and seemed to strike gold when Aaron Dzuibinski caught the high pass. However, Dzuibinski’s head broke off from his shaft, Salem came up with the ground ball, and tacked on the insurance goal for the 13-10 final.
Aaron Dzuibinski scored a goal against Salem, but was denied by the keeper and a pair of slides on this play.
Skyline’s Sam Olson finished with 5 goals (on 7 shots – at one point he was a perfect 5/5 shooting), Dzuibinski had 3 assists and a goal, and Salem was led by #23’s 3 goals (all unassisted) and 2 assists, along with Garrett Berg’s four goals and an assist and Dylan Hatcher’s four goals. Skyline is back in action at home on Wednesday against Ypsilanti Lincoln.