Game Results

Game Summary:

The Grizzlies Meet the Matadors

Houston, Texas – Playing host to their first lacrosse tournament, the Houston Sports Authority had the makings of some of best lacrosse played during the weekend. Unfortunately, Mother Nature had other ideas and decided to pound the already saturated fields with a steady rain. Add to that some uninvited guests (Texas fire ants), and the results were good lacrosse in some very inhospitable conditions.

Friday night featured #10 Oakland University playing Texas Tech. This would be the second consecutive year the two teams have faced one other. Last year in Arizona, Oakland out gunned the Matadors in an exciting 18-15 shootout. This year, Oakland, in their first game against a MDIA opponent, came in with something to prove while Tech would be looking for the upset.

With field conditions on the wet side, both teams found their traction and played at a steady, consistent pace. Oakland’s Billy Binge (Notre Dame Prep) would make his introductions early finding the net from a feed from Jimmy Gregg (Brother Rice). Matt Kosek (DeLaSalle) then drove and put the Grizzlies up by two. Tech would then get on the board with a man-up goal six minutes into the game. But that would be Tech’s only goal of the quarter, as the Grizzlies would win the ground balls and the face-offs. Jayme Brams (Birmingham/Seaholm) would take the reigns of the offense and add three goals, two of them assisted by Binge. The final goal of the quarter came off the quick stick of junior Joe Opron, III (Troy Athens), who rocketed a 15-yard shot into the upper right-hand corner of the goal. At the end of the first, Oakland led 6-1.

The second quarter saw both teams struggling to find solid ground, as the field conditions got worse. Both teams were patient on offense and looked for their opportunities in one-on-one situations. Again, it was Kosek who led the middies with another goal and Brams who fed freshman Chris Hentrich (Notre Dame Harper Woods) for a quick goal from the crease. This was Hentrich’s first goal as a Grizzlie. Tech would also score two goals in the quarter, both on man-up situations. At the half, the Grizzlies held a commanding 8-3 lead.

The third quarter saw Oakland control the ball and Tech looking for more scoring opportunities to get back in the game. Oakland would patiently work its offense and create four scoring opportunities: Brams from Kosek, Ben Ingram (Notre Dame Prep) unassisted, Nate Reynolds (Troy) from Brams, and Kosek from Brams. The Matadors added two additional goals but were held in check by Oakland’s defense: Nick Panza (Notre Dame Prep), Anil Majahan (Detroit Country Day), Bill Kozyra (Notre Dame Prep), Paul Mikaila (Notre Dame Prep), Chris Wood (DeLaSalle), and Matt Kassa (Troy). The score at the end of the third quarter was 12-5.

The final quarter allowed both teams to substitute freely and to get all their uniforms a little dirty. Oakland added three goals: Opron, Binge and Nick Evanoff (Bishop Foley). Tech added two. The final from Houston, Texas, 15-7