Both teams were scrapping hard for ground balls and pressuring from the opening whistle.  Ponte Vedra had the ball early but was unable to get a shot on goal and turned it over to Bishop Moore. Evan Kachris took advantage to score early and get Bishop Moore out in front. Bishop Moore committed two technical penalties in a row which put pressure on the BMC defense but they held strong.  Although the Sharks were unable to convert on the EMO’s they did maintain control of the ball and kept the pressure on.  A combination of solid goal tending by Max Kucera and a few missed shots by the Sharks kept the Hornets out front. After a solid possession it looked like PV was getting in a groove and Eric Applegate found Rob Peeters who finished in close. With the score tied Ponte Vedra held an advantage in time of possession and continued to scrap hard for the offensive ground balls and ride very hard.  Several times during the first quarter BMC had chances to get the ball out of the defensive end and either could not come up with a GB or failed to clear.  This has been a hallmark of this Ponte Vedra team.  They always seem to be able to get second chances on their offensive possessions. Finally with 2:24 left Bishop Moore cleared the ball and called a time out.  The score was tied but they had been playing too much defense.  We got the feeling that BMC really needed to get something going offensively during this possession.  Head Coach Reed Reynolds called a great play which got the ball down to Kachris at X who found Matthew Mottern cutting down through the middle for a quick catch and shot to make it 2-1. A third penalty on BMC gave the Ponte Vedra an EMO with :21 left in the first quarter but Kucera came up with a great save to preserve the lead at the end of the first quarter for Bishop Moore.  Despite playing defense for much of the first quarter BMC was the more efficient shooting team, making the most of the opportunities they did find and were able to hold onto a narrow first quarter lead. Early in the second quarter PV had possession for a minute and a half before Silva scored on an assist from Peeters to tie the game at 2 each. PV then got their first penalty of the night and BMC set up the EMO.   Some excellent patience by BMC as they kept looking for one more until they found Evan Kachris for the outside shot to take the lead again. Bishop Moore was having some trouble clearing the ball and Max Kucera sprinted down the field and looked like he was ready to shoot when Reed Reynolds smartly called a TO to preserve the possession.  Holding onto a narrow one goal lead at 3-2 possessions were tough to come by as PV was riding very well and scrapping like crazy for the offensive GB’s. The Hornets would not convert on the possession but it did give the defense some rest.  Finally with only 2 seconds left in the first quarter Ponte Vedra committed an illegal body check penalty.  BMC was able to hold onto the ball and begin possession in the second quarter. The second quarter started with another very patient EMO from BMC which ended in a James Duhon goal on an assist from Will Stricker. Max Kucera made a great doorstop save after PV came up with the next Face Off and BMC cleared the ball to give the Hornets another offensive chance. Ponte Vedra was able to get some transition going as Reid Smith found Miles Silva to make it 4-3 and BMC was flagged on the play.  PV won the face off and set up the EMO looking to tie the game.  Miles Silva was able to get the hat trick and tie up as he made a nice face dodge and buried it on the EMO. PV was flagged for unneccssary to give the Hornets another EMO an opportunity.  They had been solid on their first two EMO’s and this would be no different.  Matthew Mottern scored on a shot from way outside when his 3/4 bouncer found the net and gave the lead back to BMC at 5-4. EMO’s would continue to play a big role in the game as PV drew a slash call and Reid Smith found Miles Silva again to tie it up at 5 each. Evan Kachris took the ball behind the goal with 4:00 left in the first half and just blasted up the field, turned, and took a low angle shot that found the far top corner to give the lead back to Bishop Moore. Moments later Will Stricker took the ball on the high point and sprinted down the left alley letting a lefty shot on the run go, finding the far post to give Bishop Moore a 7-5 lead. After a push call on Bishop Moore Miles Silva found Ryan Wiele who made a nice BTB to make it 7-6. Ground balls once agin prove the difference as PV just outworked Bishop Moore for the loose ball on the opening face off for the 3rd quarter and Logan Toucher sprinted down the field and shot on the run to tie the game at 7. Bishop Moore had a nice possession which ended with a great Colin Peaks save.  But on the clear PV was called for interference and BMC was able to capitalize on the second chance.  James Duhon got the ball and worked up from X for the score making it 8-7. With 7:26 left in the fourth quarter and his team down by one goal Clayton Welch took a pass from Eric Applegate and let a huge shot go from way up top and tied it back up at 8-8. :26 seconds later PV was threatening again when a shot from inside just missed but Reid Smith was on the GLE and was able to collect the errant shot and came right back for the put away to give PV their first lead of the game with 7:00 left in the game at 9-8. PV may have taken the lead but BMC didn’t fold up, preventing the energized Sharks from getting a run going.  Both teams traded opportunities and some solid defense until Kachris once again switched direction twice behind the goal, got a step on his man, and turned the corner with an underhand roller that squeezed past the pipe to tie it up. With 1:01 left in the game PV called a time out and had a full minute to work with the ball already in their offensive end.  The Bishop Moore defense pressured but PV was able to get off a short barrage of shots.  Max Kucera stood tall making a couple of crucial saves and got some help from the crossbar on what would have been the game winner. This is where a great game turned into some high drama which ended up unfolding into a disappointing, anti-climatic finish. The referee crew working last night featured some of the best guys we have in Central Florida.  An no I’m not talking about those guys who think they are the best refs but nobody wants them doing their games.  But these guys are very good, popular referees that coaches generally say, “Cool, we’ve got these guys tonight.” But with one second left in regulation they called a holding call on Bishop Moore.  Two players, working hard, out by the midfield line, :01 left in the game.  Blew it.  Never should have been called. After a long consultation it was determined that the penalty would carry into the OT period.  Faced with a man down situation in the OT the Bishop Moore bench asked for a stick check.  The PV player’s stick was found to be too deep.  So now we had at :30 man down on BMC and a 1:00 and down on PV and the ball would go to BMC to start the OT. PV then asked for a stick check on a Bishop Moore player.  His stick was found to be too narrow and BMC was assessed a 3:00 non-releasable penalty and now the ball would start in possession of PV. PV spread their five out and the BMC’s four defenders boxed it up in the middle.  That’s about all a defense can do in that situation.  As the whistle blew the ball was thrown to Silva on the wing who ripped a shot that ended the game in a tremendously, under whelming fashion. The game was great and I’m not in any way disappointed in the outcome, just the finish.  I would have loved to have seen a 10 on 10 OT with a face off and everything.  The game was pretty much determined between the end of the 4th and the start of the OT.  Not too many teams are going to do much to keep PV from scoring when they have the ball and a 5 on 4. Bishop Moore played great and Evan Kachris is a true star with 4 goals and an assist on the night.  Miles Silva continued to be a scoring machine for Ponte Vedra with 5 goals and an assist on the night.  Young sophomore Reid Smith continues to impress with a pair of assists and a goal and Rob Peeters scored one and one.  Wiele, Toucher, and Welch were the other scorers for PV. Matthew Mottern scored twice for BMC as did Jame Duhon.  Will Stricker added a goal and an assist. Max Kucera was impressive in the goal for BMC as well. Ponte Vedra is now 13-2 and plays St. Augustine on Friday night.  Bishop Moore is 10-4 and prepares to host Bolles on Friday.