Monday, July 31, 2000 - Championship Game
Bridgewater - Tom Wagner scored three goals and Ian Lynch made a spectacular save in the closing seconds as the Falcons defeated the Steamers by the score of 4-3.
Despite several early chances, the game remained scoreless for the first few minutes until Tom Wagner wristed a shot past the Steamers goalie and and gave the Falcons an important 1-0 lead. The lead did not last long as the Steamers rallied and tied the game 1-1. Bulldog Annunziata was given a double-minor penalty when he accidentally hit a Steamer in the mouth. The Falcons thoroughly frustrated the Steamers powerplay and killed the four minute penalty to keep the score tied 1-1.
Bulldog Annunziata got the second goal of the game for the Falcons when his face-off win slipped past the Steamers goalie and into the net. At half time the Falcons had a 2-1 lead.
A few minutes into the second half, the Steamers held the puck in the Falcons zone, created several scoring opportunities and eventually got a goal and tied the game 2-2. The game remained tied for some time as both teams tried to score that all important go ahead goal. That goal came when Tom Wagner got around the Steamers' defense and beat their goalie high on the glove side. The fans went wild. The Falcons had a 3-2 lead. But the Steamers would not let up. They came at the Falcons with all they had but Ian lynch and the Falcons defense refused to allow a goal. On Wagners next shift he beat the Steamers goalie to the stick side and gave the Falcons a 4-2 lead. With about three minutes remaining in the game the Steamers scored to make it 4-3. The Falcons were on their heels.
The Steamers continued to apply preasure, gained control of loose pucks and put several shots on net. But the Falcons defense cleared away any rebounds. Then it happened. With about thirty seconds to play, the Steamers got their best chance to tie the game, when a point shot deflected off of a Falcons' stick, trickled past goalie Ian Lynch and rolled perilously close to the goal line. A Steamer forward skated in. Immediately, Ian Lynch reached back and pounsed on the puck before it could cross the line. It was the biggest save of the game. The Falcons held on to the lead as the remaining seconds ticked off the clock. Three... two... one... the horn sounded and the Falcons defeated the Steamers by the score of 4-3 and won the League Championship!
