Mar 04, 2024 | Royals | 880 views
Royals take first 2 games in best of 7 Semifinals vs. Ripley
The Royals semifinal action got underway this past weekend starting with an away game in Ripley.
With each team carefully measuring their opponent, the first period was a chess match with both teams scoreless after 20 mins of play.
The 1st goal of the game came at 12:14 from Royals D-man #8 Mike Noyes (assisted by Kropf/Gerth). The Royals took a 2-0 lead after #91 Erik Robichaud netted one of his own at 9:16 (assisted by Gerth/Kienapple) before Ripley got on the board with 5:23 left in the 2nd. Ripley was able to tie things up with 22 seconds left in the second leaving us tied after 2 periods of play. With 3/4 of the 3rd period past, Ripley took the lead with a goal at 5:40 but the Royals were able to answer back with only 40 seconds remaining with a marker from #14 Drew Gerth (assisted by Sauder). It would take Overtime to determine the winning of game 1 of this semifinal series.
Royals sniper Deven Kropf netted the game winner at 13:19 assisted by last year's playoff MVP, #18 Trevor Sauder. After a gritty opening game, the Royals would head home with a 1-0 series lead. 4-3 final O/T for the Royals. #30 Jensen van Boekel was steadfast in the net and earned the win in the pipes.
Game 2 took place Sunday afternoon in front of an excited crowd in Tavi. The Royals wasted no time in the 1st period with an early goal from #14 Drew Gerth (assisted by Jutzi) at 18:49, and then #89 Jutzi made it 2-0, this time assisted by Gerth. #5 Geoff Killing (assisted by Kropf/Sauder) gave the home team a 3-0 lead after 1 period of play. The 2nd period saw Ripley first to score at 15:51 but the before the end of the period it was 5-3 Royals with #89 Jon Jutzi scoring his 2nd of the game (assisted by Killing) and #15 Matt Zilke (assisted by Sean Leslie/Jutzi). The 3rd period saw 4 Royals goals, while Ripley was held to 2 more to earn the Royals a convincing 9-5 win on home ice. 3rd period goals for the Royals came from #14 Drew Gerth (assisted by Robichaud/M.Noyes), #91 Erik Robichaud (assisted by Kienapple/M.Noyes), #44 Callan Christner (assisted by Jutzi/Sauder) and an empty netter by #18 Trevor Sauder. #30 Jensen van Boekel once again earned the win in net. In recognition of her hard work behind the scenes, the boys thought it best that Rachel Graham R.M.T/Fascial Stretch Therapist (and sometimes team psychiatrist) would be the one to place puck 6 into the Royals playoff board. Thanks Rachel!!!
The Royals will now take a 2-0 series lead heading into next weekend with action getting started Saturday night in Ripley.
