Game of the Week: Playoffs Preview Edition

By Franklin Heinzmann

WILLIAMSVILLE, N.Y. – It’s been a while since the Game of the Week has been published. To celebrate its return from a brief hiatus, smack dab in the middle of playoffs season at the Epic Center, let’s take a look at every playoff matchup that will take place in Tuesday Roller Hockey Mixed and Tuesday Men’s Soccer Blue.

Tuesday Roller Hockey Blue

Crystal Palace v Royal Wristers

After taking down Puckhounds and upsetting the undefeated Blazing Nuggets on Tuesday night, Crystal Palace has a spot in the semifinals. Jason F. leads Crystal Palace with 27 points. Kevin C. leads the team with 18 goals. Similar to Crystal Palace, Royal Wristers upset the second placed Puckin’ Monkeys to get a spot in the semifinals. Wristers forward Blaine B. has the most goals (26) and points (35) of each player on the four remaining teams. Jacob S. leads the Wristers with 11 assists.

Invaders vs Red Machine

These two teams played their best when it mattered the most. The teams that finished 6^th and 7^th on the standings are facing off in the other semifinal matchup. The Invaders are led by Michael K. and Jeffery S, who have 30 and 23 points respectively. Red Machine is led by their stout defense, they’ve given up the least amount goals (50) of the four teams remaining on Tuesday. Blake S., Red Machine’s goaltender, has a .828 save percentage in the 13 games he’s played this session.

 

Tuesday Men’s Soccer Blue

BSC Sky vs Celtic

BSC Sky finished the session first overall in the standings. BSC Sky forward Josh scored a league-leading 12 goals this session. That’s more than double the four players tied for second place with five goals. They’ll take on Celtic, who’s had experience winning the League Champs t-shirts in the past. They’ll look to channel their past glory into their matchup on Tuesday night.

Shamrocks vs Mad Lads United

Shamrocks and Mad Lads United are separated by three points in the standings. They split their season series, winning a game apiece. Shamrocks are led by Chris C, who leads the team with five goals. The Shamrocks backline is stout as well. They gave up just one goal in three of their six games this session. Mad Lads United are led by forwards Lucas M, and new addition Brandon H. They have a combined eight goals this session.

The Tuesday Men’s Soccer Green playoffs start on Jan. 7. Let us know if you’d like to see a playoff preview on our Facebook and Twitter.

 

If a player doesn’t directly give their last name or last initial via player pass, epic-center.com, or in person, then their identity is protected on Epic Center Sports Report.

To see the standings, stats, and more head to epic-center.com.

Game of the Week: Shorthanded Team Team Team defeats Jamokes

Team Team Team goalkeeper Tyler Y. takes a free kick in Team Team Team (red) vs Jamokes (black). Picture by Franklin Heinzmann.

 WILLIAMSVILLE, N.Y. – This week’s Game of the Week featured Jamokes and Team Team Team in a Tuesday Men’s Soccer Green matchup. The matchup was supposed to feature to even teams, but Team Team Team played with five players and a goalkeeper as opposed to the traditional six players and a goalkeeper. That didn’t stop Team Team Team from upsetting the fully fledged Jamokes, winning 6-3. Michael K. led Team Team Team with three goals.

The game to place during the 11 P.M. slot, which has seen its fair share of slow starts. This game fell right in line with that trend. Each team had a one SOG through the first nine minutes. Each team had a few corners and at least two posts through the first 19 minutes of the game but it was scoreless. Until Team Team Team’s Brandon H. broke the drought dribbling through three defenders to put his team up 1-0 with 5:55 left. Michael K. chipped the goalie just over a minute later to make it 2-0. Jamokes, up a man, got rid of their goose egg when Corey B. scored with 1:48 left in the first half.

Going into halftime the score was 2-1 Team Team Team. They led in shots on goal as well, 8-7. Both teams were gassed as they had a combined zero substitutes between them – another common theme with the 11 P.M. slot.

To start he first half, Jamokes played a bunch of great through balls, but had trouble getting shots on net. It didn’t help that Team Team Team goalkeeper Tyler Y. was all over the place; including making two back to back diving stops early in the second half.

With 16:59 left, Team Team Team’s Jonathan H hit the crossbar, but Michael K. cleaned up the rebound to put his team up 3-1. Jonathon H. and Brandon H. scored within the next three minutes to put Team Team Team up 5-1. After that, the tone of the game was much more relaxed, the game was all but over. A goal drought lasted until Corey B/ scored two goals, the first one coming with 3:40 left and his hat trick clinching goal coming at 2:01 left. Michael K. put the nail in the coffin with his third goal with 35.9 seconds left.

Final Score: Team Team Team 6 Jamokes 3

Shots on Goal: Team Team Team 18 Jamokes 17

 

Three Stars

First Star – Michael K, Team Team Team

His hat trick helped to propel Team Team Team over Jamokes.

 

Second Star – Corey B, Jamokes

He scored 100% of Jamokes’ goals on Tuesday night.

 

Third Star – Brandon H, Team Team Team

He scored two goals, one of them being the game-winner

 

If a player doesn’t directly give their last name or last initial via player pass, epic-center.com, or in person then their identity is protected on Epic Center Sports Report.

To see the standings, stats, and more head to epic-center.com.

Game of the Week: Puckin’ Monkeys score six unanswered in win

A 2^nd half faceoff between Puckin’ Monkeys and Invaders

WILLIAMSVILLE, N.Y. – Invaders and Puckin’ Monkeys were tied at 5-1-0-2 in the standings coming into the game. Only being separated by the amount of goals they’ve scored thus far. At halftime it looked as if Invaders we’re going to pull away, as they had a 4-1 lead. Puckin’ Monkeys had other ideas as they scored six goals to win 7-4, and advance to 6-1-0-2.

Invaders got out to a quick 2-0 lead by the time 14:25 read on the scoreboard. They got pucks on net in the first ten minutes, their tenth shot of the night hit the back of the net. Michael B. scored his second of the game. The Puckin’ Monkeys finally got on the board when Andrew H. scored with 7:19 left in the first half. He then got a penalty shortly thereafter. Invaders had one SOG on the power play. Michael B. notched a hat trick to end the first half. The score was 4-1 at halftime and Invaders had a 16-10 advantage.

The second half started, and so did Puckin’ Monkeys 6-0 run. They scored the first two goals within the first five minutes of the second half. Tyler H. scored the tying goal on a breakaway with just over 13 minutes left in the game. Through the first ten minutes of the second half, Puckin’ Monkeys got seven SOG to Invaders’ three. They dominated possession as well. Matt M. scored what would be the game-winning goal with 10:23 left.

Invaders called a timeout with 3:38 left, just down a goal. Puckin’ Monkeys almost doubled their lead, but Grant S. made a great save on a breakaway to keep the tying goal in reach for Invaders. Instead of tying the game they shot themselves in the foot, giving up a penalty with just over ninety seconds to go. Tyler H. capitalized on it to make it 6-4. Invaders pulled their goalie, but it only led to an empty net goal for Puckin’ Monkeys.

Final Score: Puckin’ Monkeys 7 Invaders 4

Shots on Goal: Puckin’ Monkeys 27 Invaders 25

 

Three Stars

First Star – Tyler H, Puckin’ Monkeys

The forward scored the tying goal, a powerplay goal, and the empty net goal to secure the win.

Second Star – Matt M, Puckin’ Monkeys

The team’s leading goalscorer through nine games tallied two.

Third Star – Michael B, Invaders

He scored a first half hat trick.

 

If a player doesn’t directly give their last name or last initial via player pass, the website, or in person then their identity is protected on Epic Center Sports Report. 

To see the standings, stats, and more head to epic-center.com.

Game of the Week: BBS Canaries take the title

WILLIAMSVILLE, N.Y. – After an intense, carefully calculated championship, BBS Canaries walked away with the Tuesday Men’s Soccer Green title with ‘League Champs’ t-shirts in hand. The score was 1-1 at halftime, but Gabriel M. scored the game winning goal on a one-time volley to the vocal astonishment of his teammates in the second half.

With t-shirts on the line each team was pumped up to play in what would make for a great Game of the Week. The game started out with a great goal line clearance by the Canaries. With 22:33 left in the first half, the first goal was scored by Joshua. He then proceeded to give the “shush” celebration to silence the haters. Just over ten minutes later BBS Canaries forward Ricardo C. tied the game at 1-1 on a one timer. He later hit the post closer to the end of the first half. That’s all there was to write home about in the first half. SOG at half were in favor of the Canaries 6-4.

Josh nearly scored his second of the game to start the second half but he hit the post. With 17:15 later, Garbiel scored the game-winning goal on a one-time volley. From the timekeeper’s chair as soon as it left his foot I knew it was hitting the back of the net. For the rest of the game International FC pressed, and got a few good scoring chances, but BBS Canaries locked it down.

Final Score: BBS Canaries 2 International FC 1

Shots on Goal: BBS Canaries 9 International FC 9

 

Three Stars

First Star – Gabriel M, BBS Canaries

He made the biggest play of the game to win BBS Canaries the title.

 

Second Star – Ricardo C, BBS Canaries

His first half goal tied the game.

 

Third Star – Joshua, Internaitonal FC

The team’s leading goal scorer put his team ahead 1-0 with 22:33 left in the first half.

 

If a player doesn’t directly give their last name or last initial via player pass, the website, or in person then their identity is protected on Epic Center Sports Report.

 

To see the standings, stats, and more head to epic-center.com.

Game of the Week: International FC advance to championship

Open Field 1. Picture courtesy of The Epic Center.

WILLIAMSVILLE, N.Y. – International FC convincingly defeated Mad Lads United, 8-3, to advance to the Tuesday Men’s Green championship. Mad Lads United were playing the second playoff game of doubleheader, as they signed up for both Tuesday Men’s Soccer divisions for this session. International FC was led by Jimmy V., who scored two goals and subbed in at goalkeeper for injury in the second half. They will face BBS Canaries in the Tuesday Men’s Green championship next Tuesday with t-shirts on the line.

With 22:22 left in the first half, Mad Lads United conceded an own goal, but quickly rebounded a few minutes later thanks to a goal by Sasha. With 12:25 left Jimmy V. scored his first goal of the half off of a corner kick to make it 2-1. George T. scored International FC’s third goal of the night a few minutes later. International FC ended the half like they started it; with an own goal. It was 4-1 heading into halftime. International FC led in the SOG category at the break, 8-5.

To start the second half, Mad Lads Untied put it in the correct net this time. After James K. scored the team ran back to the center circle to quickly resume play, knowing they had a deep hole to climb out of. It backfired as International FC’s leading goal scorer Joshua scored less than a minute later to make it 5-2. James K. scored once again, this time five hole to make it 5-3 with 21 minutes to go.

With 17:30 left, Taco, International FC’s goalkeeper, had to be subbed off due to injury. The severity of his injury was quite evident early as he made it clear he couldn’t continue to play any longer. Jimmy V., who had a goal already, threw on a pair of gloves and played in net the rest of the game. He had a nice one handed save early in his outing. Taco’s injury and Jimmy V.’s play in relief sparked International FC. George T. scored his second of the night to make it 6-3

As Mad Lads United continued to get shots on goal, they couldn’t break International FC’s three goal lead. International FC bent but didn’t break. As the game was winding down, in the span of 46 seconds, International FC put a dagger – more like a sword – through Mad Lads United’s heart(s), scoring two goals to make it 8-3. Joshua scored his third of the night and Schwartz A. scored his first of the game.

Final Score: International FC 8 Mad Lads Untied 3

Shots on Goal: International FC 18 Mad Lads United 14

 

Three Stars

First Star – Jimmy V., International FC

He scored the game-winning goal and did well in relief of Taco, the injured International FC goalkeeper.

Second Star – Joshua., International FC

He got a hat trick after scoring a team-leading nine goals in the session.

Third Star – James K., Mad Lads United

His two goals were lasers off his right foot.

 

If a player doesn’t directly give their last name or last initial via player pass, the website, or in person then their identity is protected on Epic Center Sports Report.

 

To see the standings, stats, and more head to epic-center.com.

Game of the Week: Randoms clinch first seed

WILLIAMSVILLE, N.Y. – In this Columbus Day showdown, the top two teams of Monday Women’s Field Hockey faced off in the session finale. Five of the league’s top goal scorers were on the field at the same time. The winner of this game would go on to clinch the top seed for the upcoming playoffs. With ramifications this significant, it was a prime choice for this week’s Game of the Week. Randoms defeated Shark Attack 9-3 with three players getting two goals for Randoms.

Both teams elected to play without a goalie. Shots on goal became more critical for each team to garner, but also an added emphasis on showing grit to block a shot or two was also on display. Jenna S. and Emma R. swapped goals for Randoms and Shark Attack respectively within the first six minutes of the game. They both exchanged goals with around eight minutes left in the first half to make it 2-2. With 4:04 left, Claudia S. scored her first of the game to make it 3-2, Randoms ahead. That’s where the first half ended.

Claudia S.’s goal ended up being the game winning goal. She doubled Randoms lead when she scored the first goal of the second half, with 20:10 left. It was also the second goal in what would amount to be a 5-0 run by Randoms. Their 5-0 run would its course over the majority of the second half. Nicolette T, Jenna W, and Jenna S. all contributed to make it 8-2 with 3:47 left in the second half. Shark Attack’s Jackie S. would stop the bleeding with 2:13 left with a goal of her own to bring the score to 8-3. Jenna S. added another

Final Score: Randoms 9 Shark Attack 3

Shots on Goal: Randoms 18 Shark Attack 9

Three Stars 

First Star – Jenna S.

She scored four goals in her team’s biggest game of the session.

Second Star – Claudia S.

Her first goal was the game-winning goal, and her second kicked off a 5-0 Randoms run.

Third Star – Emma R.

She scored two goals and finished as the Monday Women’s Field Hockey leading goal scorer.

 

If a player doesn’t directly give their last name or last initial via player pass, the website, or in person then their identity is protected on Epic Center Sports Report. 

To see the standings, stats, and more head to epic-center.com.

Game of the Week: Wristers score four in the second

 

WILLIAMSVILLE, N.Y. – Two teams that were 2-0-0-1 faced off in this week’s Game of the Week. They were tied in the Tuesday Rolle Hockey Mixed standings coming in, but after the final buzzer, it was the Royal Wristers who pulled ahead. The Wristers beat the Puckhounds 4-1, outshooting them 38-21. Blaine B. and Chase M. had two goals each for the Wristers, each happening in the second half.

It was obvious from the get go that the Wristers were going to get pucks on net, and lots of them. Through the first three minutes of the game they registered six shot on net. Despite putting up 15 shots in the first 16 minutes of the game, it was Puckhounds who weathered the storm and scored first. Cody. L scored the team’s only goal on a breakaway. It was the only goal scored in the first half.

Even though the Puckhounds lost, let’s not gloss over the great game Puckhounds’ goalie Zach S. had, he flashed the leather all game, especially in the second half making a few great glove save in a row. With 18:10 left in the second half, The Royal Wristers got on the board thanks to Blaine B. scoring his first of the game, and scoring again six minutes later to put the Wristers ahead. The Puckhounds spent most of the second half trying to get a second goal but could not. Wristers’ forward Chase M. put two nails in the Puckhounds’ coffin (one of them being a clap bomb) with 4:33 left and 2:28 left in the game respectively.

Final Score: Royal Wristers 4 Puckhounds 1

Shots on Goal: Royal Wristers 38 Puckhounds 21

Three Stars

First Star – Blaine B., Royal Wristers

His two goals were the game-tying goal and the game-winning goal – momentum swinging goals

Second Star – Chase M., Royal Wristers

His two goals sealed the deal. His second one was a rocket off his stick.

Third Star – Zach S., Puckhounds

The Puckhounds goalie stopped 34 shots, 20 in the first half alone.

 

News and Notes

Be on the lookout for a throwback version of the Game of the Week coming out in two weeks 👀.

 

If a player doesn’t directly give their last name or last initial via player pass, the website, or in person then their identity is protected on Epic Center Sports Report.

To see the standings, stats, and more head to epic-center.com.

Game of the Week: Canaries defeat Team Team Team

WILLIAMSVILLE, N.Y. – This week’s Game of the Week featured a matchup of teams with opposite records. BBS Canaries came in boasting an undefeated record (1-0-0,) while Team Team Team (0-0-2) boasted a “defeated” record. Nothing about that sentence changed at the final buzzer as Canaries went on to beat Team Team Team by as score of 3-2.

Just a few minutes after the opening kickoff, Team Team Team had a chance to score on a breakaway but it was shut down by Isaak D., the Canaries goalkeeper. The first goal of the night was scored shortly after by Canaries forward Ricardo C. with 18:48 left in the first half. Canaries forward Leandro D. scored the team’s second goal in off of a corner with roughly nine minutes left in first half.

Brandon H. answered back with Team Team Team’s first goal with 6:32 left in the half. Team Team Team was unable to fully erase the Canaries lead score was 2-1 and both teams mustered 11 shots combined, the Canaries had seven of them.

History repeated itself as Issak D. made another great play to break up a Team Team Team to start the second half. Speaking of goalies, Canaries defender made a great heads up play to score his team’s third goal. He caught the Team Team Team goalie out of his net, and capitalized by scoring a long-distance banger over the goalie and a couple defenders.

Brandon H.’s second goal also came on a great heads up play. With 5:14 left, everyone on the Canaries had thought Team Team Team preformed an illegal throw in, so they all stopped and set up to take their own throw in. Only problem was, the whistle hadn’t blown and Brandon H. took advantage. Just a goal behind, Team Team Team threw the kitchen sink at the Canaries to tie the game, but their efforts were futile.

Final Score: BBS Canaries 3 Team Team Team 2

Shots: BBS Canaries 17 Team Team Team 15

 

 

Three Stars

First Star – Issak D., BBS Canaries

Dawning a Spiderman-esque red and blue keeper uniform, he channeled his inner superhero to stop 13 shots, including two breakaways, on the way to the victory.

Second Star – Brandon H., Team Team Team

He scored 100% of Team Team Team’s goals on Tuesday night.

Third Star – Ricardo C., BBS Canaries

His first half goal was the game-winning goal, and made him the Canaries leading goal scorer.

 

If a player doesn’t directly give their last name or last initial via player pass, the website, or in person then their identity is protected on Epic Center Sports Report.

To see standings, stats, and more head to epic-center.com.

Game of the Week: Puckhounds beat Calspan Jets to get second win

WILLIAMSVILLE, N.Y. – Puckhounds and Calspan Jets faced off in their second game of the session. Puckhounds beat 1017 Brick Sqaud to open their session and Calspan Jets lost to the Red Machine to open their session. In the end, history repeated itself as Puckhounds beat the Jets 9-5, outshooting the Jets by a 35-25 margin. Puckhounds had six different goal scorers. The star for the Jets was goalie Greg L. before he exited with an injury.

Calspan Jets’ Colton M. opened the scoring with 20:21 left. Puckhounds responded quickly with a goal on a tap in, it was right on the Jets’ doorstep. Skyler B. (pictured) scored with just over 15 minutes left to give Puckhounds a 2-1 lead. After killing a power play, things were looking better for the Jets. They then conceded to make it 3-1 with 4:10 left in the first half. However, Dominic S. cut the Jets’ defecit in half with a quick response. At halftime the score was 3-2 Puckhounds, they also led in SOG; 17-10.

To start the second half, Calspan Jets tied the game, but Puckhounds responded again to make it 4-3. With 18:47 Jets goalie Greg L. made a string of highlight-esque saves, that had both benches giving him stick taps. He’d been stopping a bunch of shots, but these saves were what some would call jaw-dropping. Unfortunately, with 12:04 he injured himself shortly thereafter and was out for the rest of the game. To cope, the Jets got a goalie from the game going on after the conclusion of the Game of the Week.

Galvanized, the Jets tied the game at four a piece with 11:12 left. Off the ensuing faceoff, Puckhounds embarked on what became a 3-0 run on over the following four minutes. After back and forth hockey, with four minutes left, #4 scord his second goal of the game for the Jets to make it 7-5. Cody L. and Charlie B. added on goals for the Jets to make the score 9-5 in garbage time, and that’s where it ended.

Final Score: Puckhounds 9 Calspan Jets 5

Shots: Puckhounds 35 Calspan Jets 25

 

Three Stars

 

 

First Star – Greg L., Calspan Jets

When you make saves that get both benches to give you stick taps, and give up your body to the game, you’re the first star.

Second Star – Skyler B., Puckhounds

He scored two goals, including the game-winning goal.

Third Star – Shawn G., Puckhounds

He also scored two goals en route to the victory.

 

If a player doesn’t directly give their last name or last initial via player pass, the website, or in person then their identity is protected on Epic Center Sports Report. Three stars image 

To see the standings, stats, and more head to epic-center.com.

Game of the Week: Mad Lads United open with 4-0 win

 

WILLIAMSVILLE, N.Y. – The Fall session kicked off with various sports playing the first game on their schedules. Mad Lads United, the fefending champions, defeated newcomers Arsenal Boys 4-0 to kick off this session of Tuesday Men’s Soccer Blue (there’s a Blue league and a Green league this session). Ostap O. led the way with two goals and Cody H. had a shutout in net for the defending champs.

Both teams were relatively slow in the first half. Mad Lads United had to shake off the rust off that accumulated after taking a few weeks off since the summer session ended. As for Arsenal Boys, it was their first official game together, so they were getting acquainted with each other on the pitch. The teams combined for five shots through the first 17 minutes of the first half.

Action picked up towards the end of the first half as Arsenal Boys made a couple goal line clearances. They couldn’t stop them all as Mad Lads’ Ostap O. scored two, including one with 4.5 seconds left. His two goals added onto a 1-0 lead that was earned by Mad Lads’ Audi when he scored with 10:09 left. The score was 3-0 Mad Lads at halftime, they also had a 7-5 SOG advantage.

Mad Lads United’s backline showed out in the second half. They stopped Arsenal Boys attacks left and right, forcing turnovers and/or shots that were sent wide. I’d wager that Arsenal Boys would’ve let the SOG category and probably scored a couple had Mad Lads’ defense not been as strong. Mad Lads United goalkeeper Cody H. also made a few key saves, 12 overall. Mad Lads United winger Lucas M. put the nail in the coffin when he sniped the top corner of the net with a free kick with 8:18 left in the game.

Final Score: Mad Lads United 4 Arsenal Boys 0

Shots: Mad Lads United 13 Arsenal Boys 12

Three Stars

First Star – Cody H. and the Mad Lads United defense

It doesn’t matter the opponent, earning a shutout at the Epic Center is tough and that’s exactly what they did.

Second Star – Ostap O.

Like a shutout, two goals is nothing to scoff at.

Third Star – Lucas M. 

His second half free kick was a thing of beauty.

If a player doesn’t directly give their last name or last initial via player pass, the website, or in person then their identity is protected on Epic Center Sports Report.