Five Score as KUA Defeats New Hampton, 11-3

KUA clashed with league opponent New Hampton in their first Lakes Region game.  Goalie Jake Gray made a number of big saves in the opening minutes and the KUA attack capitalized to put the Wildcats up. Cody Danforth scored KUA’s first two goals, the second off a laser feed from middie Kyle Curry. Alex Liebert scored his first of three to put KUA up 3-0, before New Hampton netted their first goal. Justin Wright put away KUA’s final goal of the first quarter off Curry’s second assist.  Wright and Danforth added goals in the second quarter and junior Nathan Braginetz scored his first of two on a slam dunk from the Bird’s Nest.  Eli Ward added an assist during the quarter to help give KUA a 7-1 lead going into the half. Alex Liebert led the KUA offense with two goals in the third quarter, and Steve Kontos and Braginetz each found the back of the net to put KUA up 11-1 after three quarters.

KUA’s sophomore middies kept the momentum in the Wildcat’s favor. Drew Caron, Eli Ward, Chris Morse, Sam Wyskiel, Charlie Baldwin and Jimmy Chung cleared the ball effectively and played solid defense. Freshman Max Abendroth demonstrated skill and speed on offense throughout the second half, as did sophomore CJ Frates on attack.

KUA’s defense swarmed the New Hampton offense, giving up very little space around the crease.  Seniors John Planer and Ben Wyskiel kept their men away from the cage and threw a number of take away checks to get the transition game off and running. Long poles Franklin Boswell-Taylor and Cullen Boyle helped KUA win 11/18 face-offs and Taylor Cowan played a solid game at D-pole on the crease. Senior Juan Breton continues to improve with each game and kept his attackman far from the KUA net.  Overall, the win was a great team effort by ALL Wildcat players.

KUA (3-1) clashes with Proctor Academy on Saturday at 2pm.