Broome stings Generals in high-scoring game

Herkimer, NY – It was a cold and windy afternoon on the Herkimer hilltop, but both teams' offenses were hot. Broome CC and HCCC combined to score 38 goals in Wehrum Stadium on Wednesday afternoon.

The temperature was barely above freezing at game time. A strong wind blew directly across the field, from behind the press box toward the gym. Field conditions were good. Both teams seemed ready to play a good game, but the Generals had to play without standout Whitney Brown, who was nursing an injury.

Herkimer jumped out to a 3-0 lead and looked to be the better team, but Broome was merely slow in getting into their game. They soon came back and showed that they were a match for the Generals.

Shileeka Williams netted HCCC's first goal two minutes into the game. Courtney Canavan made it 2-0. Nicole Evans used a nice spin move to score the Generals' third goal. The game was only four minutes old.

Broome scored, and then Ariel Montes cut in front of the Hornets' goal and tallied the first of what would be a six-goal performance for the senior. Broome closed the score to 4-3. Herkimer's Canavan passed to Raven Lucien, and Lucien beat the goalkeeper. 5-3 Herkimer.

Photo: Ariel Montes scoring Herkimer's 10th goal – Montes tallied six goals in all

Broome scored again. Canavan's shot hit the near post. Both teams' offenses were finding ways to beat the defenders.

Alexia Brown was in goal for the Generals, and she tended goal quite well. The Hornets simply created too many good shooting opportunities.

The two teams traded goals. Broome led 9-8 with less than a minute left in the first half when the Generals worked a very nice play that saw Evans score with just 9.3 seconds left after receiving a feed from Alexis Barretta. The score was 9-9 at the break.

Herkimer made some adjustments, but Broome took an 11-9 lead five minutes into the second half. The scoring was fast and furious. HCCC tied the game at 12-12 before the midpoint of the half. The Generals took the lead 13-12 on a lovely play that began with Shi Williams sending a long pass to Raven Lucien. Lucien fed Montes, who put her shot into the net.

Photo: Herkimer goalie Alexia Brown

Again the teams were trading goals. Broome took a late 17-16 lead from a free position shot, but the Generals kept up their intensity. Evans was awarded a free position, and she scored with 41.5 seconds left in regulation play. The game went into overtime.

Photo: Raven Lucien's shot enters the goal

The overtime format called for six minutes of play. Had the score still been tied after six minutes, sudden-death play would have begun. But this game was decided during the six minutes.

Canavan continued to be a force and gave Herkimer the lead two minutes into OT. However, Broome tallied three times during the extra period and claimed the 20-18 win.

The Generals will play again on Saturday. They will host Mohawk Valley at 1:00 p.m.

Nick Scribe, website writer

Herkimer goals: Williams 1, Canavan 5, Evans 4, Montes 6, Lucian 1, Coufal 1