By Jaclynkelli Kronemberg
TopLaxRecruits.com, Posted 5/11/13
GARDEN CITY, N.Y. – Jack Worstell scored off a Justin Guterding feed 1:40 into overtime to give host Garden City a thrilling 9-8 victory today over Shoreham-Wading River in a battle of two defending state champions from Long Island.
Garden City, the defending Class B champ, improved to 12-3. The defending Class C champion Wildcats, ranked No. 17 by TopLaxRecruits.com, fell to 14-1.
The game featured a strong rally by Garden City from an early deficit and a breathtaking end which saw the teams score two goals in literally the final seconds. Guterding had put his team ahead, 9-8, with the 14.4 seconds to play, but 400-point scorer Tim Rotanz sent it into overtime off a fast break play with 2.2 seconds left in regulation.
“I can say this is in my top two other than (winning) States,” said senior attackman Guterding. “This is unbelievable, coming back from being down 5-1.
“I just wanted the ball in my stick when we were down 9-8, I was getting doubled and shut down a little bit and I just wanted the ball in that situation. In overtime they tried to double team me and Jack was just standing there wide open and I passed it.”
“They had two guys that played incredible and we were able to slow them down a little bit in the end. I’m proud of my guys; they showed heart after giving up the tying goal with two seconds left.”
Garden City, down by 5-1 in the first quarter, used a 4-0 run to tie the game, 6-6 in the third period before giving up the next two goals.
Rotanz (two goals, six assists) found Dan Hughes to make it 8-6, but Lucas Clay scored off an assist from Jack Metzler with 4:08 remaining in the game and a minute later Metzler scored unassisted to tie it.
Guterding (two goals, one assist) came from behind the cage to seemingly give his team the victory, but Jake Kavanagh won the ensuing face-off and dished to Rotanz who raced down the field and scored with 2.2 remaining send the game into overtime.
Shoreham Wading River won the face-off in overtime, but Ed Blatz forced a turnover to get the bal;l back for the Trojans.. Guterding went behind the cage again and then found Worstell for the win.
Cody George had two goals and two assists to lead the Trojans and Jack Metzler tallied two goals and one assist. Clay had two goals for the Trojans.
“It was awesome,” said Guterding. “Knocking off an undefeated team going into playoffs is a huge win for us. It’s just a great feeling we overcame adversity.”
“This was a great comeback,” added Garden City head coach Steve Finnell. “Our guys made key plays down the stretch. Justin finding Worstell; there was a senior to a senior and you’re going to need your seniors to step up if your team is going to make a run into the playoffs.
Hunter Hayes scored five goals to lead SWR. Goalie Christian Palazotto posted nine saves for the Wildcats.
“They are a great team,” said Shoreham Wading River coach Tom Rotanz. “We just had some breakdowns. They have a great face off man and Steve Finnell and the Garden City program is just pure class.”
Garden City 10, Shoreham Wading River 9, OT
GC: 1-1-4-3-1-10
SWR: 5-0-2-2-0-9
GC: Cody George 2G, 2A; Justin Guterding 2G, 1A; Jack Metzler 2G, 1A; Lucas Clay 2G; Jack Worstell 1G, 1A; Tom Wright 1G; Brian Badgett 2A
SWR: Hunter Hayes 5G, Tim Rotanz 2G, 6A; Dan Hughes 1G; Anthony Visintin 1G; Troy Miller 1A
Saves: Dan Dolan (GC) 5, Christian Palazotto (SWR) 9
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