GAME RECAP BULLDOGS Team Real Living Date/Time Rink 3 5 05/14/2006 JIH

May 16th, 2006- After three consecutive victories that launched them from the bottom of the pack, all the way up to third place, the ‘Dog’s saw their streak stopped by ‘Team Real Living’. They lost 5-3 in a game where they were short-handed and appeared exhausted and sluggish at times. “Thank God my mother wasn’t here to witness this” said Frank Lionello.

Moments before the puck was dropped, the ‘Bulldogs’ learned that they would only be dressing 10 skaters, with Tony Feeney their only true defenseman. Captain Joey F.V. and the club scrambled to assemble the pieces, as several players would end up playing out of position.

‘TRL’ scored first, less than two minutes into the game. The ‘Bulldog’ defense made the mistake of making a pass in front of the net. The pass was stolen by ‘TRL’ center, Preston Kendall who knocked it in for his first of three goals on the evening.

Joey F.V. squared things up approximately three minutes later, when he fired a laser from behind the blue line to surprise everyone, including the ‘TRL’ goalie. The goal would keep the two teams deadlocked at 1-1 for the remainder of the first period and a good portion of the second.

Despite making some spectacular saves in the second frame, Alex Martinez gave up two goals late in the period, to give ‘TRL’ the 3-1 lead. Both goals could have easily been prevented, but the ‘Bulldog’ defenders left too many of their opponents in front of the net too often, that at some point, ‘TRL’ was going to get some of their shots through.

Mike Montague brought the ‘Dogs’ back into the game when he scored a power play goal. It was his only goal of the evening despite posting 22 shots on net.

By the time the third period rolled around, the ‘Bulldogs’ looked like a defeated team. They were tired, exhausted and dragging their proverbial “asses” up and down the ice. The lack of practice and conditioning was obvious in the way they carried themselves. Although ‘TRL’ had just as short a bench, they seemed to be hungrier and motivated to win. The ‘Dogs’ gave up two more goals, but were only able to tally one more (by Darren Diamond). They looked like a wounded animal and ‘TRL’ took advantage of their state by going for the kill. It wasn’t pretty.

“Not enough [testicles] for a win” said Martinez. “We need the practice and we need it bad. I hate to sound like a tape recorder but we need to get back to the basics. Some of us are still doing the same sh*t, time and time again. We can’t keep making the same mistakes. Anyway, we have a game on Wednesday, so let’s go out and get this win to ride the momentum to Vegas."

At 3-2-1, the ‘Bulldogs’ can’t afford too many more losses. They need to close out the ‘Lounge Lizards’ on Wednesday night, in order for them to head out to the LaBatt’s Blue Tournament on the right foot.

The Bad:

Player of the Game:

Alex Martinez

Alex had a solid outing keeping the game close.

Next up: Wednesday May 17, 2006 vs. the ‘UP Lounge Lizards’’ at 10:40PM.