September 20-21

The Washington Little Caps U16 National team had its home opening weekend against the New York Saints National team.  On Saturday night, the Little Caps did not disappoint the many friends and family members at Kettler to rock the red and show support.  First (and last as it would be) on the scoreboard was David Leitzel, just four minutes into the game.  Leitzel actually scored again in the period, but it was waved off by the officials.  Matthew Jahn notched his second of the season to make it 2-0 early in the second period.  The officials then awarded the Caps a penalty shot, but it was wide of the net.  In what was becoming a chippy game, the referees next awarded the Saints a penalty shot.  Two penalty shots, a rarity normally, in one game!  The Saints were not to be denied to get on the board and narrowed the lead to 2-1.  Only a minute into the third period, Greg Zhelobitskiy buried his second of the season to make it a two goal lead again.  Leitzel added his second (or third as some fans saw it) less than a minute later for the final 4-1 score.  Kyle Henderson had the win in net, stopping 21 of 22 shots.  Leitzel currently leads the team in goals, with 5 in 6 games played. 

Oh, when the Saints came marching in, the physicality increased on Sunday.   They were ready for the rematch and scored first halfway through the first period on a nifty back door play.  Cade Groton, who took hit after hit for the team on Sunday, buried a cross ice one timer on the power play late in the first period to tie it all up at 1-1.  Jared Lechner had the assist with the first of his three points for the day, while Alec Cordova had a secondary assist to keep his scoring streak alive.  Cordova has now registered at least a point in 5 straight games. Groton leads the teams in points with a 3-7-10 line in 6 games.   Lechner then scored on another power play in the second to take the 2-1 lead for the Little Caps for the first time.  Only thirty seconds later, Jacob Goble saw nothing but net on what would be the game winning goal to make it 3-1.  The Saints stepped up the pressure and eventually broke through on a power play goal in the third to bring the game to within one goal.  Despite facing another penalty kill late in the third, the team stood tall, and the Little Caps continued to block numerous shots.   New York pulled their goalie and put the gas on to try and get one in to tie the game.  However, the Little Caps matched the intensity and Ethan Roth made 24 saves and the team finished with a  3-2 win. 

The Saints went marching home without a point this weekend, as the Little Caps completed the sweep.