Roadrunners Recap: Tucson 4 San Antonio 3 (Overtime): 10/18/19
Game #4: San Antonio (3) at Tucson (4) – OT
SOG: SA (42) – TUC (27)
PP: SA (1/6) – TUC (1/4)
SA SCORING: Mikkola (2), Stevens (1pp), Lappin (2)
TUC SCORING: Pederson (5pp), Chaput (2), Martin (2), Miele (1)
Drama at the Home Opener
Opening night always comes with a little extra zest and Friday night it continued that way from start to finish at Tucson Arena.
From the red carpet through Andy Miele’s overtime winner, the roller-coaster of a game was enough to keep those in attendance at the Roadrunners home opener on their toes throughout.
For the first time this season the Roadrunners were unable to jump out to a hot start offensively, however, defensively, Adin Hill proved to be the rock that was needed over the course of the contest early.
Five goals in less than nine minutes during the second period could each be attributed to factors of their own but Lane Pederson has made it known quickly that the blocker-side circle on the man advantage is a comfortable home for him.
Jon Martin’s second of the season came from his familiar location, in front of the net, jamming away.
While opposite of Hill, Ville Husso proved to be a tough test to crack for Tucson, the home crowd went home happy thanks to Andy Miele in his first game in Southern Arizona with a dazzling move to win it for the Roadrunners.
“It was a fantastic crowd tonight, it was exciting. There was lots of energy in the building from that side and it was nice to get the extra point in overtime.”
Roadrunners Head Coach Jay Varady on tonight’s crowd of 5,593 inside Tucson Arena.
DON’T OVERLOOK IT
Facing 42 shots and killing off five penalties is no task to sneeze at and Adin Hill was phenomenal throughout the course of the evening.
Breaking down each that got by him, Hill was screened on the first, unable to see the shot with the defender stepping into time and space.
The second San Antonio goal came on the power play with little option for Hill with the redirect coming from approximately five feet out in front of him.
Finally, after immense pressure on the six-on-five, the walls caved in and the extra man put home the rebound.
Anything big #33 saw at five-on-five (and then some), he stopped.
GOTTA SEE IT
Did you think we were going to go with anything else? Check out the dazzling move by Miele that leaves Rampage forward Ryan Olsen stumbling over himself and headed off the ice.
PHOTO OF THE GAME
Let’s not forget, the team’s new captain Michael Chaput took home ice for the first time on Friday. The “C” looks just fine on him, don’t you think?
