LIONS OFFENSE KEY AS THEY ADVANCE

KENT, OH-

The Orange Lions continued their strong playoff run, securing a 7-4 victory over the Solon Comets in the OHSAA tournament. With standout performances from both Cooper Radillo and Noah Rice, who each netted three goals, the Lions are moving on to the next round.

The game started quickly for Orange, as Radillo found the back of the net early, giving his team a 1-0 lead. However, Solon answered back later in the first period, with Ben Roder scoring to even the score at 1-1.

The second period was all Orange. Radillo would score twice more, extending the Lions’ lead to 3-1. Solon would rally with another goal from Roder, cutting the deficit to 3-2. But just as time was winding down, Rice scored a clutch goal with only 5 seconds remaining in the period, giving the Lions a 4-2 advantage heading into the final frame.

Rice would extend the lead early in the third, making it 5-2, but Solon wasn’t finished. Jack Cruickshank fired back with two goals, one just 6 minutes into the period and another 4 minutes later, narrowing Orange’s lead to 5-4.

With under two minutes left in the game, Solon pulled their goalie in a last-ditch effort to tie it up, but the Lions sealed the deal when Russell Tye buried an empty-netter from the blue line. Rice added one final goal with just a minute left, ensuring the 7-4 win.

Lions’ goalie Zach Frederick had an impressive performance, turning away 23 shots in the victory. With the win, Orange moves on to face Kenston this Sunday at 2:15 PM at Kent State University, as they continue their tournament play.

Box Score

1st Period

OR- Cooper Radillo (Asst-Adam Novik) 3:34

SOL- Ben Roder (Asst- Pasha Zhbankov) 7:26 PP

2nd Period

OR- Cooper Radillo (Asst- Noah Rice) 2:09

OR- Cooper Radillo (Asst- Noah Rice & Zavier Bodak) 4:49

SOL- Ben Roder (Asst- Zavier Bodak)12:21

OR- Noah Rice (Asst- Cooper Radillo) 14:55

3rd Period

OR- Noah Rice (Asst- Zach Frederick) 3:20

SOL- Jack Cruickshank (Asst- Ben Roder & Zavier Bodak) 6:56