Recap

Prairie Pronghorns Win Battle of Eastern Split Titans over Northern Rollers

Pronghorns Women Triumph in Tightly Fought Tilt against Rollers

Both teams came into this pivotal match with identical 3-1 records, ensuring some fireworks. The Pronghorns and Rollers women did just that in game one, with the Pronghorns Emma Li and Kim Brent escaping with a 21-20 win over the Rollers Jessica Kawamoto and Casey Rodgers.

As befitting two veteran-laden teams, the Pronghorns and Rollers went at each other fiercely in the beginning stages. There were some good shots, for sure, but the jitters forced as many or more errors as the teams battled to a 5-5 tie. Much of the same ensued for the next eight points, with Li scoring some nice points, countered by both Rodgers and Kawamoto to move the count to 9-9.

The Rollers took advantage of some less-than-inspired play by the Pronghorns to jet out to a 15-11 lead and force a timeout. But just as quickly Li and Brent closed that gap, forcing the Rollers into timeout tied at 16-16. This entertaining game went back and forth until an improbable 20-20 freeze, the Pronghorns rallying to eventually win it after two holds.

Pronghorns Men Overwhelm Rollers in Key Match Tilt

Perhaps fatigue had something to do with it, but the rallies were shorter in this game between the Pronghorns Brad Chapman and Jeff Elwood and the Rollers Matt Stodola and Ryan Torresin. Chapman, Player of the Match, and Elwood made the most of the quick rallies, thumping Stodola and Torresin 21-15.

The Rollers did hold an early lead at 3-2, which likely got Chapman going, who smoked a cross tie it, followed by a rally with Elwood that put the Pronghorns ahead for good. Chapman later ripped a backhand cross, followed by an overhand winner that forced a Rollers timeout and the score 8-4. While Torresin, the rookie of the four, was targeted he did have his moments, but they were too few and far between as the Pronghorns steadily built a commanding 17-11 lead.

Elwood would insert himself later in the proceedings, firing a forehand then a backhand cross to put the Pronghorns ahead at 20-13 and a freeze. To their credit, Stodola and Torresin each made great winning shots to keep it at freeze, but eventually lost when the astute Chapman set up Torresin for a net return.

Rollers Kawamoto, Torresin Hold Off Late Pronghorns Rally to Extend Match

In dire need of a victory to keep their match hopes alive, the Rollers turned to the extremely capable Jessica Kawamoto and rookie Ryan Torresin to deliver. It took a while, but they did, clipping the competitive and fiery Pronghorns pair of Kim Brent and Jeff Elwood, by a score of 21-18.

The Pronghorns, sensing they could end this match right away, came out with aplomb, with Brent and Elwood making great shots, while the Rollers were just good enough to keep things close. But, when Torresin clobbered an overhand to tie it at 6-6 the tide turned badly for the Pronghorns. Together, Kawamoto and Torresin went on a run, first scoring three straight to force a timeout at 9-6.

Things didn’t get any better for the Pronghorns, with the Rollers putting the pressure on to push the score to 14-8. The lowlight of the match for the Pronghorns happened in that stanza when Elwood hit Brent on a return. The teams would go at each other some more, until some sloppy play by the Rollers led to a timeout and them leading 18-14. After the break, the Pronghorns did make the Rollers work for it, but would eventually lose when Kawamoto blasted a brilliant winner.

Pronghorns Rally Late to Claim Game and Match

With four veteran players due to match skills in this one, the Rollers were hoping Matt Stodola and Casey Rodgers could get by the Pronghorns Brad Chapman and Emma Li and send it to tiebreak. They nearly did but allowed Player of the Match Chapman and Li to erase a late deficit en route to a narrow 21-19 match-clinching triumph.

The Rollers started strong and eventually led 9-6, as both teams traded some incredible shots and transitioned from defense to offense to score big points. The Rollers were able to maintain the lead for long stretches, aided as much by good shot-making and rallies as by Pronghorns mistakes. But, a harbinger of things to come was provided by Chapman, who hit Rodgers with and Erne to tie the game 17-17 and force a timeout.

The two squads then flip-flopped the lead to push the score to 19-19, however, the Rollers couldn’t hold off a splendid Pronghorns rally, with Rodgers returning a shot into the net to hand the Pronghorns the game and match.