BOYS HOCKEY: Steng’s late goal lifts Rochester United past OLSM and into Final Four
BY DAN STICKRDT
SENIOR EDITOR
dan.stickradt@northoaklandsports.com
Twitter: @LocalSportsFans
MACOMB TWP. — Austin Streng has scored many goals this season, including several in the clutch.
None were of the magnitude of Wednesday’s third-period goal.
Streng’s slap shot with 4:21 left was not only his team-leading 28th goal of the campaign, but one of the biggest in the history of Rochester United’s hockey program.
The goal proved to be the game winner in fifth-ranked Rochester United’s 4-3 victory over third-ranked Orchard Lake St. Mary’s in the Division 1 state quarterfinals at Suburban Ice Arena-Macomb.
“It started with a face off. Marcello (Munaco), amazing, an amazing center got it perfectly right back, took a shot. (Michael) Zyrek was out front screening the guy, the goalie couldn’t see anything, I just put it home. A group effort, great goal,” smiled Streng.
Was it Streng’s biggest goal of the season?
“Probably the magnitude, but the Clarkston goal (in overtime) was big, too,” added Streng. “But yes this was a big goal.”
Power play: Rochester United’s Austin Streng battles for the puck during Wednesday’s Division 1 state quarterfinals with Orchard Lake St. Mary’s. Courtesy Photo | Schmitt Photography
Rochester United (26-3-0) advances to the Division 1 Final Four for the first time in program history and will face top-ranked Novi Detroit Catholic Central at 5 p.m. Friday at Compuware Arena in Plymouth.
United, which previously lost in the state quarterfinals back in 2009, is now on a 18-game win streak and has not lost since Dec. 27.
The game-winning goal came at a time following some intense moments where OLSM scored twice in the third period to tie the game at 3-3.
“This was a team win. We have everyone on this team that plays with great chemistry and (plays) for each other,” said Streng.
Rochester scored a short-handed goal with 14:21 still to play in the first period. Senior Michael Zyrek scooped up a long pass from senior Carter White and scored on a breakaway.
“Whenever you play a program like that and you know they are going to be coming at you from the beginning — scoring that first goal was huge and obviously a little flair for the dramatic there with (it being) a short handed goal. It was nice to play with the lead,” said RU coach Bryan Kowalski. “I was proud with the way they worked all night.
The lead stood until St. Mary’s (15-14-0) knotted the score with 12:13 to go in the second period when Mr. Hockey candidate Bryce Kallen’s wrist shot found the webbing by the far post. Seniors Matthew Flynn and Preston Hazelton assisted on the counterattack goal.
Rochester United scored a pair of goals in a span of 1:31 late in the second period to grab a 3-1 lead.
Junior Matthew Kanaras pounced on a rebound following a shot by junior Caden Ebinger on the power play with 3:29 remaining in the second frame. Moments later, Zyrek scored his second of the game and 16th of the season on a 5-on-3 situation just 1:58 before the second intermission.
St. Mary’s did not go away quietly. Coming out in the third period with vengeance, the Eaglets scored twice in a 2:31 span, including a short-handed goal and a power-play tally to tie the score at 3-3.
“We have to play with adversity, especially in the playoffs,” said Kowalski. “You can’t shy away from it. We knew going into this game that there would be some adversity. Instead of putting our heads down, we got to push back. Our power play has been good all season long and we took advantage of those situations and when they scored those two goals we didn’t fold. We came right back at them.”
The Eaglets played catchup and a man down for stretches and it cost them in the end.
“I think the penalties hurt us. I think if we skated 5-on-5 that things may have been different, but we took some big penalties,” said veteran OLSM coach Brian Klanow. “Hats off to them for taking advantage and scoring on their chances. They are a good team and you can’t give good teams power plays and chances like that.”
Hazelton had a breakaway stopped by RU goaltender Domenico Munaco, but the puck deflected in front of the net and caromed off the shin of a United defender and into the goal with 12:53 to play.
OLSM netted the equalizer with 10:21 left when senior Andrew Dundas one-timed a shot from just inside the blue line that snuck through traffic and into the goal.
St. Mary’s, which held a narrow 33-32 shots edge, continued to pressure the United net. But RU weathered the storm, eventually forged some late third-period offense and netted the go-ahead goal to send the program to unchartered territory.
Munaco finished with 30 saves for United, while counterpart Preston Lenarcic made 28 saves for OLSM.
“I can’t say enough about these guys,” added Kowalski. “To get to Plymouth has been one of their goals all season long. The nice thing is we’re not stopping yet. We’re excited to be going there and be playing (in the Final Four).”
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