Saskatoon Earns a Split in Boxing Day Doubleheader

Servus Place - Edmonton
December 26 2008

The Christmas holiday was shortened for the players of the Canadian Major indoor Soccer League’s Saskatoon Accelerators and the Edmonton Drillers as the schedule maker penciled in the two teams for a Boxing Day double header.

Game 1

The first game kicked off at 6:05 at Servus place in St. Albert. Both teams had an expected slow start but play began to pick up as the game continued. The two teams traded goals midway through the quarter. As the quarter came to a close the Drillers added a second goal to take a 2-1 lead.

Drillers forward, Sam Lam, scored (his first of two goals on the night) early in the second quarter to increase the lead to 3-1. Saskatoon cut the lead to 3-2 at the half.

The third quarter opened with Accelerators striker, Chris Devlin, scoring just ninety seconds into the third quarter to tie the game at three. The Drillers would take back the lead halfway through the quarter on a goal by Chris Lemire. A Saskatoon penalty to Shae O’Hare, lead to Sam Lam’s second goal of the night which restored the Drillers two goal cushion.

The Drillers would continue to press and closed out game one of the double header with a convincing 7-4 victory.

Game 2

The first quarter of the second game was highlighted by the play of the goal tenders. Both teams created opportunities but the game remained scoreless after the first quarter.

Driller’s defenseman Angelo Sestito opened the scoring in the second quarter at the 4:43 mark and it looked like the Drillers were going into the half with a one goal lead. Just prior to the end of the half the Drillers committed their sixth foul of the half and Saskatoon would finish the second quarter on the power play. Midfielder Ryan McAllister seized this opportunity and scored with just three seconds left in the half to tie the game a one.

Accelerators midfielder Ryan McAllister scored his second goal of the night at the 7:30 mark of the third quarter to give Saskatoon a 2-1 lead. The two teams traded goals as the quarter came to an end and Saskatoon held on for a 3-2 edge going into the fourth quarter.

The Fourth quarter was highlighted by physical play from both teams. Just 25 seconds into the fourth Jay Tomchuk would score to increase Saskatoon’s lead to 4-2. Drillers coach Todd Rattee could feel his team losing focus and decided to take a timeout to calm his team down. A mental error by Drillers goaltender Triston Ilko, lead to a Saskatoon power play as Ilko was assessed a penalty for a hand ball outside the crease.

On the ensuing power play Accelerator midfielder Ryan McAllister would complete the hat trick as he scored his second power play goal of the night to increase Saskatoon’s lead to 5-2. The teams would trade goals to close out the game. Saskatoon’s gritty play earned them a much needed split by winning the second game of the double header 6-3.

These two teams will get reacquainted in a week as they will play a double header on January 2nd at Servus place at 6:05 PM.