BROOKLYN — Often it’s not how many penalties, but when and to whom.
Olmsted Falls was penalized only three times in Wednesday’s Brooklyn district tournament game, but the Bulldogs could not have imagined a worse scenario than the one they saw early in the third period.
“I looked over and saw who was in the penalty box,” Elyria Catholic coach Dave Phiel said. “I thought, ‘Those are two pretty good players.’”
Indeed they were. Sitting in isolation were Olmsted Falls co-captains Dave Turner and Buddy Gerus, the team’s most experienced players and best scoring threats.
The score was tied 3-3 when Gerus joined Turner in the box. EC wasted little time untying things. The Panthers scored 22 seconds later and scored on another power-play 33 seconds after that en route to an eventual 5-4 victory.
“We knew it would come down to special teams,” Phiel said. “That 5-on-3 we had was the difference. When we skate 5-on-5 we’re evenly matched teams.”
Turner was called for hooking at 4:15 of the last period. Gerus was ticketed for tripping at 5:28, giving EC a two-player advantage for 48 seconds.
Pat DeSouza and Richie Baker did the damage for the Panthers. DeSouza scored off an assist from Baker at 5:50 to break the deadlock. Baker corralled a pass from DeSouza and put in his second goal of the night at 6:23.
Elyria Catholic (15-11-1) will play Trinity on Saturday at 3 p.m.. Olmsted Falls ended its season at 18-13.
“That was the difference,” Olmsted Falls coach Brian Thompson said. “I don’t think we were outplayed. EC is a good team, but we skated right with them.”
The Bulldogs had more shots than the Panthers, 33-27, and got two power-play goals as well.
“Brad Moore (EC goalie) played a solid game,” Phiel said. “He had some huge saves in the third period. Strong goaltending is usually the difference and Brad gave us that.”
Olmsted Falls jumped on the Panthers early with the second line giving the Bulldogs a 1-0 lead. Cory Daugherty slipped a pass in front of the net and Hayden Jones pushed it in 2:06 into the game.
Chris Andrews tied the score with 5:25 to go in the opening period. DeSouza scored his first goal of the evening at the 11:22 mark of the first as EC went ahead 2-1.
Turner got the first of his two goals on a power play at 3:37 of the second. Baker handed the Panthers a 3-2 lead on his first goal of the game, but Turner tied it again on a pass by Cam Brady with 4:16 remaining in the second.
Falls made it interesting with 1:10 to play as Gerus fired a pass across the ice and Jason Kolar picked it up and slapped a hard shot over Moore’s shoulder and into the net. The goal came after DeSouza was called for slashing Gerus on a breakaway at 1:30 left.

Elyria Catholic 5, Olmsted Falls 4

Olmsted Falls       1          2          1 – 4
Elyria Catholic      2          1          1 – 5
FIRST: 1. OF, Hayden Jones (Cory Daughery), 2:06; 1. EC, Chris Andrews (Mike Freeh) 9:35; 2. EC, Pat DeSouza (Mitch Haszto), 11:22. Penaltied – none.
SECOND: 2. OF, Dave Turner (Buddy Gerus, Ryan Petitti), 3:37; 3. EC, Richie Baker (Justin Saunders, Matt Fielding), 9:07; 3. OF, Dave Turner (Cam Brady), 10:44. Peanlty – EC, Joey Griswold (tripping), 2:40.
THIRD: 4. EC, Pat DeSouza (Richie Baker), 5:50; 5. EC, Richie Baker (Pat DeSouza), 6:23; 4. OF, Jason Kolar (Buddy Gerus), 13:50. Penalties – OF, Dave Turner (hooking), 4:15; OF, Buddy Gerus (tripping), 5:28; OF, Eddie Gerus (tripping), 11:25; EC, Pat DeSouza (slashing), 13:30.
Shots on goal – Olmsted Falls 12-11-10—33, Elyria Catholic 6-11-10—27. Goalies – OF, Pat Butterfield (27 shots, 22 saves), EC, Brad Moore (33 shots, 29 saves). Power-play opportunities – Olmsted Falls 2 of 2, Elyria Catholic 3 of 4.
    
 
 
  

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