Ashburn, VA (February 21, 2022) - There was no guessing why the Riverside Rams had earned the top spot in the playoffs. A perfect 11-0 season and a 90-22 goal differential will get that. The Broad Run Spartans' spot was a little less certain with a modest 5-4-1 record and only a one goal differential, 58-57. To make expectations even more clear, Riverside had thumped Broad Run, 11-2, back in December in their only regular season matchup.
But that's why they play the games.
Chas Sumser Photography was there to capture the action and emotion and posted a gallery of images from the game.
The Rams came out flying in the first period, and the ice tilted toward Spartan goalkeeper Connor Donaldson who calmly swept away shot after shot with flawless positioning. At the other end of the ice Rams' goalie Matt Kennedy was simply not tested. When the puck did cross into the Riverside zone his defensive mates were there to control it. With 1:30 left in the period, Georg Clavin put another one off the crossbar, but the buzzer sounded with a somewhat surprising 0-0 score.
The rink opened up a bit in the second with Broad Run finally able to mount an offensive attack. Riverside opened the scoring on a goal from Keegan Jensen just two minutes into the period. But the Spartans' John Ryan answered back shortly thereafter with a goal that would tie the score and give Broad Run some momentum. It looked like the period would end at 1-1, but Ryan would score again in the twelfth minute to make it 2-1 at the break.
Not desperate yet, Riverside came out confidently firing the puck to start the third, peppering Donaldson with shot after shot, hitting the crossbar again during the barrage. When the Rams' Braydon Hudtloff crashed in with the tying goal halfway through the period, the game seemed to be Riverside's to win. But two minutes later there was the opportunistic Ryan with the hat trick giving the lead back to Broad Run. Weathering another furious Riverside rally, the Spartans held on for a stunning upset and advancement to the semifinals.
Final Score: Broad Run 3 - Riverside 2
