Josh S. and Daniel K. look to drum up some Viking offense after a face-off. (Courtesy/Cindy Wilson)

Jake L. finds the back of the net. In what has become a more recent occurrence, Jake places the puck past the goalie for a Vikings lead. It has been less than a minute since the puck drop and the Maroon and gray are on the front foot. Sydney L. continually came up big for Academy’s defense covering up and saving errors by CA’s defense. After a tough battle in the first, the Vikings trailed Olentangy Orange 2-1, and its offense consisted of a coast-to-coast one-man show with various players taking on the entire Orange defensive unit. Another goal for the Pioneers before the second intermission cushioned their lead late in this game. It wouldn’t be until Daniel K. would end the Viking’s drought with a goal of his own. Finally, Academy was rejuvenated and finding its rhythm. Sydney would stop a few more Pioneer chances before Daniel would again have the goaltender’s number. All the Vikes needed now was a finisher. Josh S. stepped up and slapped one for the first Academy lead in over twenty minutes. Jake S. and Owen L. both took shots off the shins and a late-minute attack from Scott A. would seal the deal on a Vikings Victory.

The next morning, the Vikings hosted Olentangy Orange in a quick rematch before goals from Jake L., and a previously absent, Landon L. with Sydney L. achieving her first shutout victory of the season and her career. 

The rematch with St Charles was much like the first, except, a familiar face was in between the pipes. Scott A. laced up his skates and put on the large padding in the net for the Vikings. It went surprisingly well to start for the Vikes with Scott making six acrobatic saves. It wouldn’t be until nine minutes in when a shot would finally break the tie in favor of the Cardinals, who continued with unmatched physicality and tallied ten more goals compared to a Vikings’ goose egg. There were some positives as Scott had twenty-six saves and was receiving compliments from the Ohio State and Bowling Green club hockey teams who were set to play after the Vikings and Cardinals. 

As weird as it may sound, the team has only crossed the line past defeat when a player wears a new piece of equipment. Owen L. was sporting a new pair of maroon hockey gloves, and Daniel K. had a new pair of skates in his two-goal performance. If I were coaching with one game left, especially considering the amount of resilience this senior class has shown in the face of hardship and struggle, I’d be trying to increase our odds with some new gear. 

The Vikings look to give its seniors one last hoorah on Sunday, February 2, when Academy takes the ice at 3:40 p.m. against Dublin Coffman.