Grinnell Digs in to Win

If you were fortunate enough to watch the first game between these two teams, you were in for a treat.  Grinnell, known for getting behind the ball and big defenders brought their A game and took it to St. Norbert.  St. Norbert did not come to play that day but had to know they were going to meet Grinnell again.

Today was their day for redemption.  It was their day to prove that should have not only won earlier this season but the season prior when Grinnell sent them packing in the first round of the 2008 conference tournament.

As the game got underway, there were no surprises.  Grinnell pitched their tent in their defensive third, choosing only to attack with five players, keep their forwards wide, looking for crossing runs to do the work.  They defended their back line like dogs.  St. Norbert would continually bring numbers at them in an effort to break their line but rarely could get they get by All-Conference defenders Andrew Mullins and JP Prouty.  Despite multiple attempts at goal, St. Norbert could not put a long range shot on frame. 

The Pioneers would get their chances but they were not nearly as threatening as their counterparts.  Planting forward Mark Rosenberg wide right, they tried to pepper balls in his direction where he would look for fellow forward Andrew Stephenson to build their attacks.  It didn’t work like they had hoped.  Their offense compiled a total seven shots in the match and only a handful were even close to the goal’s frame.

Every time St. Norbert brought their numbers forward, they were forced to look at an entrenched defense that looked to be playing for the tie.  Norbert sent cross after cross but without a true game changer in their attack, they were unable to get any serious opportunities until late in the game.

Once the overtimes got underway, St. Norbert took total command.  In a sequence late in the second overtime a ball was sent from the right wing to Adam Sanchez.  Sanchez brought the ball down twelve yards off the goal line with amazing touch; he not only took it down as if it was passed to him from three yards away but he was able to touch it just past Mullins opening himself for a wide open shot with goal keeper Ben Schemper.  What seemed as an eternity, Sanchez stared down the goal keeper picking out his corner to finish one of their greatest rivals, Schemper was at the mercy of the shooter.  Sanchez struck the ball with the instep of his foot with good enough power to make the shot if it were place anywhere but the middle.  Unfortunately for anyone wearing yellow and green, the shot was right down the middle.  Schemper merely fell forward smothering the shot.

With time winding down both teams prepared for a shootout.  Similar to the game prior, both team’s shooters brought the skill and accuracy one would expect from two teams with only three conference losses between them.

The two teams exchanged goals like they were trading baseball cars.  Neither Joe Schwartz nor Ben Schemper could guess correctly, let alone get a hand on a ball.  The shoot out had seen thirteen players come and go, every one of them sinking their shot as if there was no keeper in their way.  St. Norbert was in the second position, down 7-6, sent Greg Schmidt to the line.  Schmidt has been a consistant starter for St. Norbert, tallying three goals and one assist on the season.  Knowing that somebody was going to miss at some point, Ben Schemper guessed to the shooters left and was right. 

Grinnell wins the shoot out having made every shot they were asked to make. 

The Grinnell Pioneers will face the Beloit Buccaneers in the conference championship game tomorrow at 4:00pm.