The Dexter water polo team appeared to be swimming upstream against a strong Huron team on Sept. 13 in an SEC Red showdown. The Dreadnaughts were down two goals with just 40 seconds left in the game when Dexter splashed a little magic.
Matthew Resende scored to make it a one-goal game and give the Dreads a fighting chance. And after another great defensive effort by Dexter, Lucas Greatorex scored to tie the game at 11-11 with just 3 seconds left in regulation to push the game into overtime.
The first overtime period was a highlight film for both goalies. With time running out, junior Ben Curtis found an open Resende for a goal to give Dexter a 12-11 lead.
In the second overtime, Huron was awarded a 5 meter penalty shot that was blocked by Dexter’s Griffin Patel (who had 25 saves on the night). With less than 13 seconds left in the game, Huron found the net for the first goal since the third period to even the score at 12-12.
On the face-off, the ball was passed back to Liam MacNeil who fired a shot at the buzzer from three quarters of the pool length that found the corner of the Huron net to give Dexter a dramatic 13-12 overtime victory.
MacNeil and Otto Krueger each had three goals and two assists. Resende and Greatorex each netted two goals in the win. Travis Fitch and Grady Wheeler had solo goals for the Dreads.
The game was tied 3-3 after one period and the River Rats led 7-6 at halftime. Huron led 11-9 heading into the final quarter.
The fourth period is where the “Naughts” really dug in on defense. Griffin Patel seemed like there was not a ball he could not stop.
