Match Report by Ian Dibley:
Oxford Rising Stars travelled to North London with a depleted bench, as early season injuries took its toll on the squad. It took the hosts only 3 minutes to break the deadlock, when Mattew Ganas broke up a Stars attack in his own defensive zone and skated the length of the ice to power the puck past Kayla Poole in goal for the Stars. Ganas was causing all sorts of problems and it was no surprise when he doubled the Lions lead some two minutes later. This time it was on the powerplay as Ashlee Cave sat a 2-minute minor for interference. It had taken only 10 seconds of having the extra player for the Lions to score. Stars settled into their game as firstly Griff Eden-Parish and then Sam Arnold were unable to find a way past Ethan Frain, in the Lions goal. The game started to spark as Stars Josh Oliver sat a penalty for roughing, for what seemed a run of the mill collision with the Lions defender, and Frain took umbrage to what he thought he thought was a late contact by Stars Ed Crotty.
Thirty seconds into the 2nd period and Ganas completed his hat-trick as he tipped in a Zion Felician pass at the near post. Stars were unable to maintain any sustained pressure on the home side. In the 24th minute a Tajah Allen shot, after the whistle straight at Poole, saw Allen and Stars Calum Lynch take penalties together with Caden Hughes taking a 10-minute misconduct penalty. Referee Emilio Fusco then disallowed what seemed a perfectly good Lions goal. The remainder of the period saw both teams restricted to break away attempts, with Poole the busier netminder.
The 3rd period started with Ganas turning provider as he found Nathan Awoyemi on a breakaway to extend the home sides advantage to 4 goals. It took until the 5oth minute for Stars to open their account as the on-rushing Crotty finished off a pass from Oliver. Lions’ 5th goal was a little bit controversial. Despite the Stars protest that the puck did not fully cross the line, it was awarded to Awoyemi, with Ganas, once again, picking up the assist. The final 3 minutes of the game, turned into a goal fest as Oliver reduced the deficit, only for Stars to concede some 10 seconds later when Allen shot past Poole. Stars responded when Crotty centered from the right wing to find Chris Beckett. Two goals in the final minute for the visitors from Eden-Parish and Theo Bundock reduced the match to a one goal game as it finished in defeat for the Stars by 6-5.
Video From Lee Valley Lions