High school hockey: Freshman fill-in goalie saves day for Avon in baron Cup II; Avon Lake wins, too, to set up rematch with Eagles

BROOKLYN — Who needs their top two goalkeepers to win a big game? Not the Avon Eagles, apparently. The Eagles were in just that predicament because of COVID-19 protocols in their Baron Cup II opener against Solon on Thursday night at the John M. Coyne Recreation Center. No matter. In stepped Colin Schneid, a freshman who hadn't been between the pipes since his Squirt days. All Schneid did was come up with a clutch save with less than a second to go to preserve a 5-4 win. Avon (12-2-1) advances to the semifinals Saturday at 3 p.m. against their rivals to the North after Avon Lake jumped out early and had to hang on to beat Aurora 4-3 in Thursday's other game. "Our defense played one heck of a game, it was insanity," said Schneid, who pieced together his equipment from Avon's two goalies and the Rocky River recreation center supply closet. "Those guys may have blocked more shots than I did tonight. I just had to calm my nerves, trust myself and trust my teammates. It was so much fun to go out there and help my team, but I hope I never have to do that again." The Eagles spent the first two periods burying the puck in their offensive end in what they called the "Amherst Special," limiting Solon (6-8-1) to just six shots on goal, while attempting 34 of their own. Matt Folds was the only Eagle to solve Solon goalie Devon Apenawisz (39 saves) in the first period, scoring a power-play goal with 2:43 left. Avon then had a scoring parade in the second period, putting the puck in the net four times to take a commanding 5-0 lead. Nick Krazeswski scored from the left wing at 11:06 on assists from Michael Perusek and Cole Emerine. Less than a minute later Jake Zurawski scored on assists from Emerine (four assists) and Logan Brown. Perusek scored at 7:10 and Max Summers at 4:12 left on assists by Colin Barrett and Callahan Miller. Little did Avon know that Summers' score would end up the game-winner. But Christo Wu got Solon on the board with 1:13 left in the period and then led a burst of three goals in just over two minutes to get the Comets back in the game. Wu's third goal with 6:12 left got the Comets within a goal before the Eagles defense and Schneid secured the Avon win. "That was really tough, and we changed a lot when we found out the (goalkeeper) news," Avon coach Kyle Botos said. "We had to control the puck and play a little conservative at times. I'm speechless. You can't tell me that's not fun. To have a kid that wanted to help the team and go in net speaks a lot, and we put him in one of the biggest moments of the year. He gave us a great effort and love him to death. He just went out there and battled." Much like Avon, the Shoremen played strong early in taking 4-0 lead and then had to hold on for dear life at the end. Avon Lake defenseman Isaac Young had a hand in the first three scores, getting a goal at 2:27 of the first and assisting on a blistering shot from center ice by Murphy Mohar to beat the clock with three seconds left for a 2-0 lead. Brady Starck scored at 6:43 of the second off a Young assist and then Ryan Harbor finished off the Avon Lake scoring on assists by Mohar and Colin Andrejcak three minutes later. "It was super important to get out to an early lead, especially after the way they came back in the third period," Young said of the Greenmen. "It's going to be a blast to go out there and play Avon again. I love playing them and they're a worthy match." "Give credit to them, they came after us pretty hard in that third period," Shoremen coach Wade Nilson said of Aurora. "Our defense played great and AJ (Jagels) made some great saves (30) at the end. Any victory in the Baron Cup is a good victory." Contact James Brady at 329-7135 or jbrady_ct@yahoo.com. Avon 5, Solon 4 FIRST PERIOD: (A) Matt Folds (Mike Perusek, Cole Emerine), PP, 2:43. PENALTIES — (S) Cooper Frazier (2;00 hooking), 4:38, (S) Christo Wu (2:00 cross-check), 3:08, (S) Frazier (2:00 cross-check), 0:03.SECOND PERIOD: (A) Nick Krazeswski (Perusek, Emerine), 11:06, (A) Nick Zuraswski (Emerine, Logan Brown), 10:18, (A) Perusek (Krazeswski, Emerine), PP, 7:10, (A) Max Summers (Colin Barrett, Callahan Miller), 4:12, (S) Wu (unassisted), 1:13. PENALTIES — Noah Prins (2:00 too many men), 7:36.THIRD PERIOD: (S) Wu (unassisted), PP, 8:06, (S) Zach Nathanson (Matt Hales, Frazier), 7:44, (S) Wu (unassisted), 6:12. PENALTIES — (A) Krazeswski (2:00 interference), 8:35, (S) Frazier (2:00 tripping), 2:43, (A) Emerine (2:00 interference), 2:26. Solon &emsp;&emsp; &emsp;&emsp;0 &emsp;&emsp;1 &emsp;&emsp;3 &emsp;&emsp;— &emsp;&emsp;4Avon &emsp;&emsp; &emsp; &emsp;1 &emsp;&emsp;4 &emsp;&emsp;0 &emsp;&emsp;— &emsp;&emsp;5 Shots on goal: Solon 15 (2-4-9), Avon 44 (14-20-10). Goalies: (S) Devon Apenawisz (44 shots, 39 saves), (A) Colin Schneid (9 shots, 5 saves). Power-play opportunities: Solon 1-1, Avon 2-4. Avon Lake 4, Aurora 3 FIRST PERIOD: (AL) Isaac Young (Matt Tomaselli), 2:27, (AL) Murphy Mohar (Luke Farthing, Young), 0:03. PENALTIES — None.SECOND PERIOD: (AL) Brady Starck (Young), 6:43, (AL) Ryan Harbor (Mohar, Colin Andrejcak), 3:32, (AU) Zane Martin (Mike Mancine), 3:14. PENALTIES — (AU) Cam Mullin (2:00 interference), (AL) Young (2:00 tripping), 1:02.THIRD PERIOD: (AU) Martin (Will Genovese), 2:28, (AU) Drew Pfiffinger (Cam Mullin, Mike Mancine, EN, 0:14. PENALTIES — None. Aurora &emsp;&emsp; 0 &emsp;&emsp;1 &emsp;&emsp;2 &emsp;&emsp;— &emsp;&emsp;3 Avon Lake &emsp;&emsp;2 &emsp;&emsp;2 &emsp;&emsp;0 &emsp;&emsp;— &emsp;&emsp;4 Shots on goal: Aurora 33 (6-11-16), Avon Lake 42 (13-16-13). Goalies: (Au) Nolan Sullivan (42 shots, 38 saves), (AL) AJ Jagels (33 shots, 30 saves). Power-play opportunities: Aurora 0-1, Avon Lake 0-0.