Favorites Butler House edges Etheridge in Saints Hockey final

May 25, 2013 Sports

Butler House lived up to their billing as pre-tournament favorites by edging a determined Etheridge side in the final of the St. Stanislaus College Inter-House Hockey Competition on Monday.

The two finalists Butler and Etheridge Houses pose for a photo op following the completion of a riveting final.

The final started with both teams playing tentatively before Etheridge’s striking partnership of Shemuel King and Marcia Persaud started to pressure the Butler defence, resulting in several close calls.
At half time, the game was still scoreless and despite the absence of their star defender Shani Naughton due to injury, Etheridge’s defensive duo of Nichola Nervas and Ayeisha Boodie were holding their own.
With time winding down in the second half and both teams pushing for the win it was Butler’s Ato Greene, who broke the deadlock to give his team the slim lead. Greene then pushed his side further ahead, with a clinical finish after a solo counter attack down the right side.
Etheridge never gave up hope and were rewarded for their resilience when Nervas blocked a shot in front of his goal, then raced the length of the court to bring his team within one.
Despite some desperate attacking plays by Etheridge in the dying seconds Butler’s defence held firm to spark off wild celebrations, at the end of full time. Earlier, Weld defeated Galton 2-0 in the third place playoff thanks to goals from Captain Hilton Chester and Shenay Stewart.