Danville, KY – Centre defeated Rhodes in a thrilling game, 14–12.
Rhodes struck first in the opening minute when Andrew Murphy scored off an assist from Gavin Nagle. Centre responded quickly with back-to-back goals from Ryan Black and Ryan Hall to take a 2–1 lead. Rhodes regained control with strong offense. Wyatt Bounds tied the game at 8:16, sparking a 4–0 run with goals from Gavin Nagle, Murphy, and Griffin Galloway. Centre stopped the run late in the period with a goal from Nick Witcher, but Rhodes still led 6–3 heading into the second.
The second period had a slow start, as both teams missed shots and hit posts. Centre broke through with a goal from Ben Hubbs, followed by Patrick Tatro to cut the lead to one. Turnovers by Rhodes gave Centre more opportunities. Eli Carberry tied the game with an assist from Thomas Tyack with 4:26 left in the half. Rhodes briefly regained the lead on a goal from John Mori, but Centre answered quickly as Ryan Black scored to tie the game 7–7 at halftime.
The Colonels came out of the half aggressively as Ryan Black scored early to make it 8-7. Rhodes had an answer, with Wyatt Bounds tying the game before Nagle gave the Lynx the lead off an assist from Brosco. Midway through the period, there was a feature of several missed shots hitting the post as both teams struggled to get one through, and Rhodes' goalie, Blake Jeska, was able to keep the Colonels' offense quiet. Centre continued to push and was able to cut the deficit to one with a goal by Thomas Tyack late in the period to keep the Colonels in it heading into the fourth.
In the opening minutes of the fourth quarter, Colonel Graysen Jolly buried a man-up goal to tie it 10-10, igniting momentum for the team. Rhodes answered right back with a goal from John Mori off an assist by Galloway to reclaim the lead 11-10. This back-and-forth battle was just getting started as Nico Valentino fired one in to even the score again, and moments later, Ben Hubbs gave Centre its first lead of the quarter, 12-11, with 6 minutes left.
With a momentum build, Ryan Black delivered a crushing goal to extend the lead 13-11. The Lynx were refusing to go away, as Galloway cut the gap to one and kept pressure on late.
In the final minute, Nico Valentino struck again, sealing the game at 14-12. Centre controlled the closing moments to put an end to a thrilling game.
Ryan Black led the Colonels with 4 goals. Valentino and Ben Hubbs each scored twice. Six Colonels scored a goal each, including Thomas Tyack, who added 2 helpers in the win.
The Colonels are back at it with Senior Day on Friday, April 3rd at 7pm against Oglethorpe.
