River Lakes won 4-3 over Becker-Big Lake; it's RL's fifth consecutive win over BBL in the section playoffs.
The game went 3 OTs.
River Lakes outshot Becker-Big Lake 106-45. (71-19 in regulation; 35-26 in the OTs.)
RL went up 2-0 in the first, and teams then played a scoreless, penalty-loaded second period. But in the 3rd BBL woke up, scoring 30 second into the period, and again 9 and 13:45 minutes in.
Less than 20 seconds after Adam Hayes's shorthanded goal game BBL the lead, Austin Athmann buried the tying goal for RL. Mitch Ejnik won it at 5:14 of the 3rd OT.
RL goalie Andrew Gloseclose made 42 saves over the course of the game for the win. But that pales in comparison to what BBL goalie Alex Darsow put up with.
He made 102 saves on 106 shots...only to lose.
These players may not get any recognition anywhere else, and those of us accustomed to watching the top AA teams would probably barely even recognize it as high school hockey. But for these kids, it was anything but irrelevant. They gave it everything they had in a ridiculous game, and for that, they've earned at least one admirer.
If this is how the AA playoffs start, I can't wait to see what comes next...
102 saves? Wow, great effort Mr Darsow!
