MEDFORD. ORE. — After picking up the franchise’s first playoff win on Saturday, the Mustangs were eliminated from the hunt for the Thorne Cup after a 4-5, 7-5, 0-7 weekend against the Southern Oregon Spartans in Medford, Ore.
The showing marks the second consecutive year the Mustangs appeared in the postseason, something head coach Jake Laime said is a great building block.
“We’ve got a great foundation to build upon with our returning guys,” he said. “I think that we established an identity this season and we’re going to build on it in the offseason and continue to refine that throughout next year.”
Ogden wrapped up a successful 2012-13 regular season with an 18-22-6 record and ended the postseason 1-2.
Captain Eryn Siracusa led the Mustang offense over the weekend with six points on four goals and a pair of assists. Forward Sean Haltam also logged six points on the weekend with five assists and a goal.
“I think ‘Cusa [Siracusa] had his best weekend of the season,” Laime said. “He’s a leader, he’s a character guy, and he wanted to go out with a bang.”
After taking a 2-1 first period lead on Friday night, Southern Oregon’s Dan Doyle scored a pair of second period goals to give the Spartans a 4-3 lead going into the third.
Siracusa tied the game at four mid-way through the third before Oregon’s Wilhelm Brodin notched a score with seven minutes left in the game giving the Spartans the win.
Ogden goalie Tyler Fallica took the loss after facing 36 shots, while Sean Buckley picked up the win for the Spartans stopping 31 shots.
The scenario reversed on Saturday as the Mustangs found themselves down 5-3 after an eight-goal first period.
d periods while scoring four goals of their own. Goalie Joe Keyser logged several clutch saves while stopping 35 shots for the win.
Saturday’s triumph turned into Sunday’s disappointment as the Spartans offense came out on fire and logged a six-goal second period on their way to a 7-0 win.
“We were prepared for this weekend,” Laime said. “I think everybody played well and we did a good job of rebounding on Saturday, but today [Sunday] we didn’t do everything we needed, or with the urgency we needed, to win.”
den outshot the Spartans 51-42 on Sunday but Southern Oregon goalie Austin Brihn turned in an amazing performance and ended with the shutout while ending the Mustangs’ season.
Despite the disappointing end, Laime says his guys worked hard and broke new ground in the second year of the franchise, and explained why he’s excited about the prospect of the 2013-2014 season.
“We’ve already begun to recruit for next season and hired a new head coach,” he said. “I think the buy-in is there, I think we’ve got our name on the map and we’re recognized in more rinks around the nation.”
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