Thunder falls to Saints in OT 4-3
SJA vs Aquinas game notes August 25, 2023, L 3–4 OT: The 2023 edition of the Thunder Saints huge rivalry once again was an epic game, ending with a heartbreaking loss with just a little over a minute left in the first overtime, with our Thunder boys falling 4–3. The event dubbed "Huppe Out/Stripe Out" honored our long time AD, coach, role model and hero, Mark Huppe (also former Aquinas teach / coach), and great friend and long time Saint parent John Wigham in their battles with cancer and ALS respectively, as this was a fundraising event for our entire community. We are one community after and amidst this great rivalry game to start the season, we celebrate and wrap our arms around each other in such a huge way. In spite of the unprecedented heat and humidity, a huge crowd once again witnessed a great battle. Heat played a huge factor in this game for both teams, as possibly every player was impacted with cramps at some point throughout the game.
Both teams battled the heat and humidity, and cramps for almost 90 minutes. In addition to several water breaks, there were stoppages due to cramping and fouls resulting in injury or yellow cards. Both teams had issues with the referee crew throughout the game, but the referee crew were dealing with the same conditions which made their role just as difficult, so everybody was playing on the same field with the same limitations. The biggest downside of the night - which I know both teams will address - because of the intense rivalry, passion and emotions are always high, and between physical play and disagreements on the field, I am not sure of the official count, but there may have been as many as 15 cards handed out during the game, all yellow, with a red card alongside a couple of yellows handed out after the game.
To sum up the entire game, both teams excelled in different ways. Aquinas defended hard, try to create opportunities on turnovers by pressing a bit on our end, and scored all four of their goals on long distance set pieces. Even though the first half was relatively even, and OT was simply survival, for most of the game we had the better of the run of play, especially in the midfield, and created the majority of our opportunities through the run of play.

Aquinas jumped on the scoreboard about 10 minutes in on a long throw in down in our final third. We failed to clear the ball and left several Saints open on the second and third ball, and a nice assist and finish followed. Goal # 2 was more of the same with a little over 14 minted left, when a long free kick from about 55 yards was sent into our goal area, where several Saints framed the goal area well and when the ball was not cleared a one time shot was redirect into the goal to make it 2-0. Not more than a minute later we got one back when Evan Ediger made a nice run, splitting Saint midfielders at midfield and played a beautiful through ball to Grady Herrington, who split defenders with a great run, and tucked the ball into the far corner to make it 2-1. With about seven minutes left, the Saints sent a bending free kick in from over 40 yards out that three Saints seemed to be alone to battle with our goalie Finn Rauen and it appears no one touched it as it found its way into the net - such a hard incoming ball for a goalie to navigate. 3-1 at half. The second half battle intensified and we seemed to take more control of the game in the midfield and created many dangerous opportunities. Ediger ended up with the ball on the left side about 20 yards out and sent a beautiful cross that was directed into the goal on a great head ball by Seth Haney to reduce the deficit to one with about 24 minutes left. With about seven minutes left, Charlie Fasl disrupted play in our half of the field that ultimately ended up with Liam Catano starting about a 70 yard run down the field aided with a nice given go from Avery Amis before crossing a ball deep to the far post. Logan Jones was on the receiving end, and although he did not gain full control in the battle for the ball, the ball once again ended up at the foot of Ediger, who perfectly placed a lob over the defenders to Herrington, who once again streaked into the box unmarked and hammered it home one time for the dramatic equalizer.

Two dramatic unanswered goals in the second half brought the Thunder back to force overtime.

Overtime turned out to be a very sloppy affair as both teams had left it all out on the field and were cramping due to intense heat and humidity seemingly every minute of OT. If the game was going to end in a victory, perhaps it was a fitting ending that the winning goal was set up by another long free kick, this one set up by a mystery foul on Ediger, who had control of the ball and his back to a Saint defender, but both teams had dealt with this all game. The Saints sent another free kick into our area and a Saint header directed the ball into the corner for the game winner.

This long, almost 3 hour ordeal came to an end with one team celebrating, and the other disappointed. The reality we both face, however, is that in the midst of this great event, this is only game one of the very long season and we both have a lot of good and bad takeaways to work on, going forward.

One thing is for sure, we would love to see this game again down the road this Fall!

No rest for the weary as they say as we now prepare for the Fatcat tournament on Tuesday 8/29 where we begin against Shawnee Mission West at 4 PM at the Blue Valley West reserve field.

Huge thanks to all involved in putting this event together, especially Julie Lamfers, and our huge fan base was unbelievable and incomparable as always! Thanks for your continued support and we look forward to hopefully seeing you next week! God bless, Coach Enna

Stats:
Thunder:
•Shots (on goal) 15 (7)
•Goals 3 (Herrington 13:32 H1, Haney 24:02 H2, Herrington 7:27 H2)
•Assists 3 (Ediger 3)
•Corners: 4
•Saves 5