roadhockey.net

Fear focuses foes

It looked like it was going to be a short day.

With a lead that ballooned to as many as 11 goals at one point, Scooby and his mates, Kid and Goober, were rolling. Then the wheels fell off, and the young speedster had to rip a high sizzler past the suddenly invincible Gump to salvage a hard-fought 20-16 win.

"I"ve been on so many teams where we've choked like that," said Scooby of his side's uncomfortably close brush with defeat after romping for much of the morning. "It was really a relief when I got that last goal."

For the first half of Sunday's game it seemed every shot they fired at Gump found the mesh at the back of the net. Especially Kid, who scored eight of his ten goals in the first two periods as he returned to action for the first time in a month

"Kid was wide open on a lot of plays at the side of the net, and we also got a lot of good bounces as well," said Scooby. "I think the other team just played a horrible first half."

"I had a rough start," said a shell-shocked Gump. "I thought it might be the shortest game in road hockey history."

But with his side down 15-6, they started to find their own scoring touch. Two quick goals by the Living Legend seemed to swing the game's momentum. And Gump started making key saves.

"He really picked up his game, and that gave us confidence to come back," said Doo of his resurgent rearguard. "(He's) a huge competitor."

"I started to make a few saves and that got the team going," said Gump.

It also put their opponents back on their heels. Their scoring neutralized, they seemed in disarray.

"I found myself flat-footed a lot," said Scooby. "That just kills you because guys just burst by you."

Especially Doo, who's young legs propelled him past collapsing defenders like they were pylons.

"Everybody gets fired up," said Gump.

"I think this game, more than other ones, had huge momentum swings," said Doo.

As the underdogs narrowed the gap, fear focused the eyes of Scooby and his mates.

"You learn your lessons the hard way," said the fleet-footed forward. "You never forget those lessons."

Posted by jaysuburb at March 21, 2010 09:00 PM