A metal post is all that stood in the way of the shorthanded Thunder Bay Chill and a guaranteed playoff berth.
Unfortunately Brandon Swartzendruber’s penalty shot in the 56th minute bounced off the Colorado post and out of harm’s way, preserving a 1-1 tie with the Real Colorado Foxes on Friday night, setting up a one-game, possible win-or-go-home finale on Saturday night.
“We had a penalty in Colorado and I went right, so I figured I’d go left. It’s unlucky. I mishit it and I hit the post,” said a near distraught Swartzendruber, whose team had plenty of chances to put it away in the first half, then spent most of the second half down a man after Anthony Putrus was red-carded and tossed from the contest.
It was the second penalty shot of the night, the first awarded to Colorado’s Lorne Donaldson in the 21st minute.
Donaldson beat Chill goalie Steven Paterson with a shot up the middle, tying the game some eight minutes after Sergio Villalva gave Thunder Bay a 1-0 lead, firing a shot that Colorado goalie Miguel Rosales fumbled into his own net.
”He lined up and hit it right down the middle and I’m not used to guys taking it right down the middle. Maybe I should have researched it a little bit more. Apparently he’s been hitting them down the middle all season,” Paterson said. “But next time we’ll get him.”
They’ll get their chance on Saturday night at Chapples Park, with the two teams paired off in what could be a do-or-die battle for the Chill, a win giving them the division crown and a shot at hosting the first round of the playoffs, a tie clinching second place in the Heartland Division and a playoff berth and a loss possibly ending their season once and for all.
Though Paterson would have preferred to get it over with on day one, they’ll bring the better mentality and hopefully a better finishing touch, he said.
“We came into the weekend kind of treating it like this was the first round of the playoffs for us,” he said. “Hopefully everybody would step up their game and treat it like a playoff game, because of course we have to win and tie or win both of these games to continue.
“Ultimately it was a playoff game for us.”
In an unusual move, the players held an on-field, players only meeting after the game, with captain Wilson Neto reminding them of the task at hand.
It’s a game the Chill could easily have established a much larger lead, had some of their chances found holes.
After opening with a barrage of shots on Rosales, Chill midfielder Nolan Intermoia found himself alone in front, but the keeper kept his opponent and the ball at bay. Four minutes later playmaker Gustavo Oliveira showed he’s got a great foot, threading a free kick through traffic that just sailed over the net.
The Foxes had their own opportunities, none better than Joseph Madigan’s corner kick, which Paterson swept aside.
Oliveira had another shot just tipped away at the last second by Morales and the teams were tied 1-1 at the half.
Putrus, who had earlier drawn a yellow card and was just returning to the lineup after a card-related suspension, was tossed early in the second when the referee accused him of diving. The ensuing argument led to the red card, and drew a crowd of angry Chill players, each of whom complained that Putrus had been legitimately fouled.
Chill coach Tony Colistro, who will be without Putrus on Saturday, said he’s not looking back at what might have been.
“Those are tough calls that you have to deal with. But we had our opportunities to win it and we didn’t do it. We missed a PK and you have to take advantage of that ... I thought the guys did pretty well with 10 men.”
Game time Saturday night is 7:30 p.m.
