Tonight was the deciding game of CAAC Copper title as Ionia travelled to Everett. With regulation time ending in a draw at zeros, you could be forgiven for assuming this game was a snoozefest. In fact, it was a very exciting game in which both teams had chances. 

Everett possesses a quick, technical game which has brought them success throughout their season. For us at times this season, it feels like we have had to reinvent ourselves due to circumstances and be flexible in our tactics. Tonight, we went into this game with the idea of absorbing their attack and waiting to strike on the counter. 

In the first half, both teams had chances to go ahead but just couldn't find the back of the net. Everybody was putting in a defensive shift to make sure we were giving ourselves a chance on the counter. At half-time, we addressed little issues that needed to be ironed out but also stressed the fact that we had to remain patient and take our chances when they came. In the second half those chances seemed to come with frequency as we started to press more looking for that go ahead goal. But by the end of regulation we were unable to decide the game and we were going to have to move to penalties.

Our Goalkeeper, senior Alex Barr was ever-present in goal for us on the night. He made some great plays to keep things secure in back. But now we were going to need him to come up big again if we were going to win the Copper Title. He did just that. He faced all five of Everett's shooters, stopping two of them to give our penalty takers a chance to do their part. They did just that. Ionia's penalty takers were perfect from the spot and didn't require the 5th and final attempt.

Final score 0-0 (Ionia wins on penalties, 4-3)

  Ionia: XXXX    Penalties taken by Carter Castillo, Carl Goeckel, Daman Lautenbach, and Derrick Santana. (Drew Paton - unused)
Everett: XOXXO

Alex Barr with 8 saves to secure the win in goal.

Overall Record: 10-5-2
Conference Record: 4-3-0 
CAAC Copper: 2-0