![\"Hockey](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/TOP-L-TroyM1HKY-122725-02.jpg\")
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)<\/p>\nTROY \u2013 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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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\u2019s snap shot found the back of the net with 1:33 remaining in the period.\n<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
The netminders did have to break out a handful of gems here and there, especially M1 goalie Todd Butler, who finished with 44 saves.<\/p>\n
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)<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ve taken a lot of good pride in our defensive zone. We\u2019re really trying to work on that. With a lot of youth, we\u2019ve got to understand our responsibilities, and so we\u2019re really starting to figure that out,\u201d Griffins head coach Alex Gregorich said.<\/p>\n
Troy United goalie Noah Dumas stopped 19 of 20 shots.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s what we\u2019re 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,\u201d Troy United head coach Josh Brown said.<\/p>\n
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\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n