Sophomore Max Walker attacks goal with seconds left in the first quarter. (Henry Rubey’22/Media & Staff)
The Academy Ice Hockey team kept busy over winter break, winning the home opener triumphantly over DeSales on Sunday, December 8, and narrowly losing to Springboro on Saturday, December 14, before tying in the team’s inaugural alumni game on Friday, December 20. The new tradition was followed by a tough defeat at the hands of Riley on Saturday, December 21, and a big win against Dublin Scioto in a 32-goal thriller on Sunday, December 29, including hat tricks for sophomores Jake Carlin and Andrew Zaki, as well as a five-goal game for Campbell Gwin’21 to end 2019.
To start the new year, Academy faced off against Bishop Watterson, top ranked in the Vikes’ division, resulting in a harsh loss on Thursday, January 2.
A week later on Friday, January 10, our boys and girls faced off against Gahanna Lincoln at home for a primetime 7:30 p.m. matchup which attracted a huge student section.
Academy struck early with a goal from Zaki assisted by Phillip Soderberg’20 and Connor Harris’22. Just a minute later, Carlin doubled the Vikes’ lead off an assist from Allen Koganov’22, but Gahanna continued to pressure the puck and posted their first goal of the night a minute after.
The first period ended 2-1 in favor of the Vikes, but the match was even, with the Lions holding momentum going into the second. The deadlock continued until halfway through the second when Gahanna tied up the game. In the first few minutes in the final period of the night, Koganov bagged his first of the night, giving Academy the momentum. Zaki added another to his tally , assisted by Koganov and Luke Budzik’21, but Gahanna quickly closed the gap to one goal. The Vikes, powered by the student section, tamed the Lions in the dying minutes of the match, ending with a 4-3 win.
Academy, currently ranked second in the division, will look to start a hot streak with a pair of home games against Beavercreek on Saturday, January 11, at 3:40 p.m. and against Olentangy Berlin on Sunday, January 12, at 6:40 p.m.
