Upon returning to competition after an eventful international interlude, Angevins and Angloys want to start off well. The Dukes find the ice cube for the first time since Mario Richer’s touchdown late last week. For Hormadi there is the opportunity to obtain a third success against a top team. Chronicle of a match where the Angloy goalkeeper shone.
The Dukes start this matchup with huge chances. Like the last opponent, the Basques lose pucks in the neutral zone and leave large ammunition to their opponents. Gints Meija came close to opening the scoring but Mathew Robson won (00’45). In the following minute and a half the Dukes go very close to the opening goal but the goalkeeper, helped by his post, rejects the offensive. On the counterattack Anglet takes advantage of a change in the Angevin line to make himself dangerous. The one-two is well executed but Matthew Prapavessis interrupts Larroque’s second throw with the end of the kick (04’21). While the game seems to lean towards the highlight for Hormadi, an interruption by Evan Cowley allows the referees to request video of Angevin’s deflection early in the game (04’47). The check confirms the initial whistle and play resumes. The Basques did well at the start of the game, like their goalkeeper who, once again against the big names, got the business talking (09’26). The Dukes try several times but the American goalkeeper systematically deflects the puck and succeeds as soon as the puck escapes him. If Mathew Robson manages to postpone the deadline, the menacing work done by the locals pays off. After another throw-in for a prohibited clearance, Téo Sarliève inherits the puck in the enclave and lights the fuse to break the ice and allow his team to bring a goal to zero (1-0 with 11’13). The first penalty comes against Bastien Zago to hang (16’03) but the second does nothing. When play resumed, the Angevins touched the Angloy amount for the third time. The match is interrupted and the locals then inherit a new numerical superiority as Hormadi is sanctioned with a surplus (18’40). For the second time of the evening, the Angevin power play is defeated.
The game resumes and the intentions are the same. The dukes put the Basque defense to the test. The timid attempts multiply but nothing manages to make the spans of the IceParc shiver. Antonin Manavian tries from the blue, rejected by Robson’s boot (22’30). The locals put their game in the offensive zone and their efforts are rewarded once again. Philippe Halley finds Neil Manning well installed at the back of the left engagement circle. The latter tries his luck and finds a hole between the shoulder and the helmet of the Angloy goalkeeper to insert the puck and create a first margin of safety for the Angevins (2-0 at 25’30). Hormadi’s response is slow to be heard, but it is dangerous. Charles Schmitt tries his luck from a distance, is rejected somehow by Evan Cowley. The rebound finds an angled stick but the Angevin goalkeeper wins again before freezing the puck (32’35). Baptiste Manciot slipped into the penalty area to hold on (33’52) before being joined by Lionel Tarantino for obstruction (34’16). the Dukes are struggling to install their power play and Anglet is back in full force. With almost three minutes of inferiority then double numerical inferiority killed, the Basques pressed. Olivier Dame-Malka tries his luck but is rejected by the traffic in front of the cage (36’41). The Hormadi tries to force the lock that reigns on Evan Cowley’s cage but the siren sounds which puts an end to this second period.
Photo: Anthony Mangeard
The third and final period of this match starts at the same pace. Téo Sarliève gratifies the IceParc crowd with fine technical gestures to keep the puck in the offensive zone and Angers continues to put pressure on Mathew Robson (42’39). In one of the rare Basque forays, Fabien Kazarine put his players back in the game by fielding Evan Cowley (2-1 in the 43’51 minute). The debates are balanced and Anglet stings on the counterattack. Austin Glover escapes and takes advantage of a two-on-one situation to try his luck but his attempt slips past the Angevin goal. On the action that follows Zack Torquato tries his luck, he is rejected by Robson on Marius Serer who sends the puck into the back of the net in his fall. Angers appear to be leading by three goals to one but the video referee is requested by the referees. The goal is finally validated to the delight of the IceParc (3-1 at 51’10). Time is running out and the physiognomy of this meeting remains the same. Angers set the pace, Anglet took advantage of counter-attacks to put the opposing goalkeeper to the test. Despite some attempts from both sides and a goal left empty by Anglet, this meeting ended with a score of three goals to one in favor of the Dukes.
Man of the match: Matthew Robson (Anglet) and Téo Sarliève (Angers).
Post match commentary:
Alexis Billard (Angers manager): “We know we have a talented group only sometimes to win we don’t have to try to play a perfect game, we have to put the puck behind the defenders and work. Now we have to concentrate to end the week in Bordeaux well.
Angers 3-1 Anglet (1-0, 1-0, 1-1)
Tuesday 20 December 2022 at 8.30 pm at IceParc in Angers – 3,586 spectators
Arbitration by Laurent Garbay and Pierre Dehaen assisted by Johan Fauvel and Yohann Creux-Beaugiraud
Throws: Angers 45 (19, 12, 14). Angle 25 (4, 9, 12)
Penalties: Angers 0′ (0′, 0′, 0′). Angle 8′ (4′, 4′, 0′)
Match card:
1-0 after 11’13: Sarliève assisted by Serer and Ross
2-0 at 25:30: Manning assisted by Halley and Charbonneau
2-1 in the 43’51 minute: Kazarine assisted by Arrossamena and Decock
3-1 at 51’10: Serer
Anger
Forwards
Tommy Giroux-Philippe Halley-Jonathan Charbonneau
Cédric Di Dio Balsamo – Robin Gaborit (C) – Nicolas Ritz (A)
Theo Sarlieve – Maurice Bouvet – Marius Serer
Gint May – Zack Torquato – Brendan Harms
Defenders
Kevin Dusseau-Matthew Prapavessis
Neil Manning – Vincent Llorca (A)
Nicholas Ross – Antonin Manavian
Keeper
Evan Cowley (25 saves)
Substitute: Julian Barrier (G).
Anglet (2′)
Forwards
Anton Vasiliev – Austin Glover – Victor Ranger
Fabien Kazarine – Nicolas Arrossamena – Thomas Decock (C)
Bastien Zago (2′) – Robin Lamboley – Lionel Tarantino (2′)
Hugo Baron-Thomas Larroque-Nolan Lussault
Defenders
Olivier Dame-Malka-Charles Schmitt
Michal Gutwald – Matthias Zelingr
Mathieu Pons – Baptiste Manciot (2′)
Keeper
Mathew Robson (41 saves)
Substitute: Julien Gaubert (G).
