TROY – Ben Dumas and Kaiser Ascencio scored all the goals for Troy United, who edged past the M1 Unified Griffins 3-1 on Saturday night in an OAA crossover game.
Ascencio got the game-winning goal with 3:42 left in the game when Dumas fed him a pass in transition and Ascencio fired a one-timer that broke a 1-1 tie. Dumas added an empty-net goal with 1:15 remaining to seal the game, and Troy United came away with the win.
The teams traded goals in the second period. United had opened the scoring when Ascencio set up Dumas in transition for a one-timer that Dumas slammed into the top-right corner for a shorthanded goal and a 1-0 Troy United lead. The M1 power play clicked late in the period with Aiden Rouse setting up Isaac Imasa in front for a quick shot at point-blank range. Imasa’s snap shot found the back of the net with 1:33 remaining in the period.
The teams traded opportunities for most of the first two periods. But outstanding play from both goalies kept the score low and the game close.
In turn, both goalies had plenty of help from the defense in front of them. The defenses got sticks into passing lanes, blocked pucks, and controlled the area in front of their goalies, clearing rebounds, and winning puck battles. That meant the quality of chances was often low even as the shots piled up.
The netminders did have to break out a handful of gems here and there, especially M1 goalie Todd Butler, who finished with 44 saves.
M1 Unified’s Hunter Kozlowski (5) controls the puck in front of Troy United’s Aaron Stinson during Saturday’s game played in Troy. The Griffins lost the game to Troy, 3-1. (KEN SWART – For MediaNews Group)
“We’ve taken a lot of good pride in our defensive zone. We’re really trying to work on that. With a lot of youth, we’ve got to understand our responsibilities, and so we’re really starting to figure that out,” Griffins head coach Alex Gregorich said.
Troy United goalie Noah Dumas stopped 19 of 20 shots.
“That’s what we’re trying to work on, on our back side. Improvement from last year and the years before where we have that goaltending on the back end that helps us play well in front of them where we can get those pucks transitioned as an offensive unit from defense,” Troy United head coach Josh Brown said.
Eventually, Troy United had the depth and possession to simply wear down the Griffins as United rolled all its lines and kept the puck in M1’s end for much of the third period. It took them nearly 50 shots, but they finally managed to get enough pucks past Butler to pick up the win.
Photo gallery of M1 Unified vs. Troy United in OAA crossover hockey action
“It took a while. It took so long, but it feels good being on the other side of it,” Brown said. “It was good all the way through for us, getting shots to the net, getting pucks deep, and having our depth going. We have three, four injured guys for today, and they (the team) found a way to push through for that third period. It was nice.”
Troy United improves to 12-2 overall. United has a full week off before hosting Novi next Saturday night. Troy United is off to its best start since Troy and Troy Athens merged in time for the 2015-16 season.
“We close out this December without a loss, 12-2 on the season so far, and feeling good,” Brown said.
M1 (2-13) travels to Utica Eisenhower next Friday.
“We competed. Other than the empty-net goal, a 2-1 game against a team like this that can score, I’m proud of our boys. We didn’t get the win, but we’re making progress,” Gregorich said.