Emily Goldberg ’12
Web Sports Editor
The Staples-Weston Co-op Boy’s hockey team fell to the Ridgefield Tigers on Jan. 6. Coming off a 10-3 win against Housatonic last Saturday, this was a disappointing defeat. The 1-9 loss to Ridgefield will lower the Wrecker’s record to 2-5.
With a solid start to the game, Kyle Wehmhoff ’12 scored on the Tigers less than a minute into the first period. Aaron Liu ’12 and Mike Zaken ’10 (Weston High School) assisted Wehmhoff for the Wrecker’s only goal.
In the first five minutes of the game, it appeared the Wreckers would have a good chance to win the game if they continued with this momentum. However the team peaked in those first few minutes and was not able to recover after Ridgefield’s two goals later in the first period.
“Our goal is to improve how long we last and how we play as a whole. We have a lot we can improve,” said tri-captain Danny Carbone ’10.
Ridgefield forward, Terry Guider ’12 tied the score later in the first period. Guider was followed by his fellow forward, Matt Flanagan ’11 who put the Tigers up by one after scoring with only seven seconds left in the period. “That goal was really a heartbreaker,” said Wreckers Head Coach Ralph Unker.
With only two returning players having substantial varsity experience, the young team is working hard to become more of a threat to their opponents. “I hope to be more competitive later in the season. Right now it’s just a lack of self-confidence and experience, which go hand in hand,” said Unker.
Unfortunately the Wreckers were unable to control the game in the second period, and Ridgefield scored seven goals during the period. “We never started shooting, and we stopped competing, which allowed Ridgefield to beat us to every puck,” said Unker.
However the Wreckers regained some strength in the third period and did not allow the Tigers to score again. There were some close shots and good passing combinations on both teams but neither put the puck in the back of the net.
“We had some good shifts in the second and third period. There were points when we were really competing but I’d say we only really played for seven or eight minutes of the whole game,” said Unker, ”Ridgefield played for the entire 45 minutes and that’s why they won.”
The team will practice hard and continue working to improve before their next game on Jan. 12. On Jan. 12 the Wreckers will face their rival St. Joe’s for the second time this season, and look to avenge their prior 9-0 loss against the Cadets from earlier in the season.