Screeching Owls of Daly City, Summer 2001 Monday Bronze League Champions
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First Place? Forgetaboutit!
09/14/06 - The Screeching Owls had an opportunity to climb into first place for the first time since week 1, but league leaders Forgetaboutit! had other ideas, stopping the Owls 7-5 last night at the Bladium in Alameda.
Forgetaboutit! came out fast against a shorthanded Owls side (who started the game with only 6 players dressed), scoring 3 unanswered goals en route to a 4-1 lead at the end of period 1. The Owls deficit increased to 5-1 before Alfredo Melara finally suited up, and the extra skater was just what the team needed to stop the bleeding and mount a comeback that kept the fans at the edge of their seats until the final whistle.
At the end of 2, the Owls were still down 5-3, but a pep talk by veteran Butch Lavin during the break sparked an energized third period. "I just told the guys that we won the second period 2-1," said Lavin, "and that if we kept their scorers in check we'd get our chances."
In a heated third period that had the blazing pace of a first period and the feel of a playoff contest, the Owls tallied 2 more goals to tie the game at 5. The third period comeback was marred by a couple of what-ifs, as Melara was robbed on a breakaway, and Captain Mike DaLuz, famous for his "Michigan" goal last week against the Panthers, nearly scored another "Michigan", but the puck sailed harmlessly across the crease, never finding the back of the net.
Trailing 6-5 with just under 2 minutes remaining, the Owls pulled their goalie for one final push, which resulted in a Forgetaboutit! empty netter for the final score of 7-5. The loss leaves the Owls in a tie for third place with the Panthers, clinging to home ice advantage as we start to eye the potential playoff matchups.
NOTES: The Owls missed the 10 goals of Paul Cruz and gritty defense of Ron Rayo, both of whom could have made the difference in the game. Cruz and Rayo were suspended by their coach after missing practice earlier this week to attend Diddy's White Party in the Hamptons... Melara led all Owls with 3 points (1G, 2A)... DaLuz added 2 goals, totaling 13 on the year... Lavin and defenseman Randy Wing added one goal apiece... consistent scorig threat Kevin Baldomero was held without a point for the first time this season.
Owls Tame the Panthers
09/08/06 - After last week's tough loss, the Screeching Owls of Daly City rebounded to defeat last years league champs, the Panthers, in a 6-4
thriller.
The Owls opened the scoring when captain Mike Da Luz scored one of the most amazing goals ever. Da Luz broke down the left side, came
around the back of the net and scored a "Michigan" goal, suprising the Panthers, and wowing his teamates.
After the spectacular goal, the see-saw affair took place. The Panthers tied the game soon after on a broken down two-on-one. Then the Owls took the lead on a well designed 3-on-1 breakout. Defenseman Rodrigo Dubon rushed the zone on the right side slinging a pass to Da Luz who the spotted Paul Cruz on the right wing, Da Luz saucered a backhand pass that Cruz put home. That was not the last time Cruz found the back of the net. Cruz, who missed last weeks loss, then scored a goal from the bottom of the right face-off circle after being high sticked. Cruz kicked the puck to his blade and wristed a shot low to the goalies stick side.
But after two periods the Owls were down 4-3. The third period saw the Owls jump on the Panthers from the drop of the face-off, peppering the Panther goalie with hard shots from every angle. The Owls tied the game on the powerplay, when Alfredo Melara blasted a slapshot from the top of the right face-off circle. From then on the Panthers were stymied by the Owl defense of Dubon, Rayo, Wing, and Ng.
The game winner came with just under three minutes left in the game. Da Luz danced around Panther defenders and ripped a slap shot off the back glass. The rebound bounced right to the right post where Cruz netted his third goal of the game into the top-shelf. It was Cruz's 10th goal of the season. The Owls iced the game when Rayo dumped the puck off the right boards to Da Luz who coasted the puck into the empty net.
NOTES: Butch Lavin missed his first game of the season due to an undisclosed situation... Kevin Baldomero and Goalie JoJo Babiera also missed the game... Goalie Norman Acaba of the Madness filled-in admirabley for Babiera, stopping 19 shots for the victory... Cruz has two hat tricks this season and Melara scored in his fourth straight game and also added an assist.
Owls Lose a Tough One
08/31/06 - The Owls couldn't hold on to a late 3-2 lead, as the Madness scored twice in the final period to hand the Owls their first loss of the season, 4-3.
The Owls struck first early in the first period. Butch Lavin, who played for the Madness last year and signed with the Owls in the offseason, raced up the ice and threw a hard wrister at Madness keeper Will Azenberger, who stopped the initial shot. Defenseman Ron Rayo, who was trailing on the play, put in the rebound to give the Owls the early 1-0 lead.
Topliner Alfredo Melara continued his inspired play from last week with a nifty assist to Kevin Baldomero for the Owls second goal. Melara put one away himself in the third to give the Owls their final lead of the night, 3-2. That's when the Madness took over.
The Madness tied the game with less than 7 minutes remaining, prompting the Owls to call a timeout and regroup. Then, a controversial tick tack penalty was called on Lavin late in the period to give the Madness the chance they needed for the game winner, and they delivered. Leading the way for the Madness, as usual, were Captain Alvin Acaba with 1 goal, and the brother tandem of Thuy and Mike Huynh, with 1 and 2 goals each, respectively.
It doesn't get any easier for the Owls the next 2 weeks as they continue their 3 game stretch against arguably the best teams in the league. We'll know what kind of team the Owls really have come mid-September.
NOTES: Paul Cruz missed his first game of the season to handle personal matters... Melara was rewarded a 10 minute game misconduct for arguing a too many men on the ice call with 12 seconds left in the game... Netminder Jojo Babiera will miss next week's game due to a scheduled hospital visit, though he assures the team he'll be able to play the remaining games on the schedule... Veteran goalkeeper Norman Acaba is on loan from the Madness and will play for the Owls next week against the Panther at 10:00pm.
Owls Stop Fire for Second Time in 3 Weeks
08/25/06 - The Owls top line combined for 4 goals and 6 assists, and keeper Jojo Babiera stopped 25 of 26 shots to lead the Owls to a 7-1 victory over Fire Wednesday night in their Bronze B League matchup at the Bladium in Alameda.
Earlier this season, the Owls seemed to spread the scoring evenly amongst all of its players. But Wednesday night, the former high schoolers took over, showing how much value the Owls have added to their senior squad through its High School League farm system.
Topliner Alfredo Melara finally came out of his early season funk, assisting on the first goal of the game and playing very unselfishly in the offensive zone. Melara finished the game with 2 goals and 3 assists, both season highs. His linemate, however, refused to be outdone. Captain Mike DaLuz matched Melara point for point on the scoresheet, scoring 2 goals himself and tallying 3 assists as well. The dynamic duo, showing the unselfish play and crisp passing that has led to previous league and tournament championships, proved that they haven't lost their touch.
And let's not forget about Paul Cruz. The former Marauder turned Owl, who's been playing hockey since he ws a teenager, had a career night of his own, socring 3 goals and 1 assist for his first hat trick of the season. Cruz unfortunately was unable to connect with linemate Butch Lavin on Wednesday, who was playing defense for most of the game. Why, do you ask? Because defenseman Randy Wing had one beer too many during happy hour before the game and couldn't keep up with the Fire's offensive players. The Owls hid Randy on offense where he was ineffective at best.
Up next for the Owls is the much anticipated matchup against perennial powerhouse Madness on 8/31, starting off a grueling mid-season stretch of 3 consecutive games against top flight opponents. The 4th place Panthers come to town on 9/6, followed by a road trip against league leading Forgetaboutit! on 9/13.
NOTES: Jeff Ng made his first appearance for the Owls since week 1, filling in for Kevin Baldomero, who missed the game due to flulike symptoms... The Owls are currently second in the league in scoring (7.25 GFA), first in goals allowed (2.00 GAA), and first in save percentage (91.5%).
Blue Streak Can't Stop The Owls Streak
08/17/06 - The Owls wasted no time against a short-handed Blue Streak team, scoring 2 goals in the first 2 minutes en route to their third straight victory, a 7-2 win in yesterday's Bladium Wednesday Night Bronze B League matchup in Alameda.
Blue Streak started the 7:00pm game with only 3 skaters on the ice, and the Owls started the first period with Defenseman Ron Rayo in the net, sans pads, as the rest of the opposition along with Owls keeper Jojo Babiera negotiated Bay Bridge traffic on their way to the rink. The Owls took advantage of their opportunity quickly, as captain Mike Da Luz put away 2 goals in the first shift to give his team an early 2-0 lead.
Rayo played admirably in the net while the Owls patiently waited for Babiera to suit up on the sidelines, making a key kick save with his right frame, and stopping another shot, this time a high wrister, with his face cage. Rayo almost pitched a shutout in his spot start, finally giving up a goal on a low wrister to the far post.
Once Babiera stepped into the net, solid defensive play by the back line kept Blue Streak off the score sheet for the rest of the first and entire second periods. Rodrigo Dubon, the youngster of the defensive corps, was rewarded for his efforts last night when his centering pass, initiated by an agressive forecheck, bounced off a Blue Streak skate and into the back of the net.
NOTES: Jeff Ng was a healthy scratch for the second game in a row... Da Luz added a third goal in the second, giving him 2 hat tricks in 3 games... Paul Cruz added a goal and 2 assists, while Alfredo Melara and Butch Lavin rounded out the scoring with a goal apiece... Kevin Baldomero added 2 assists, he now leads the team in helpers with 4.
Owls Keeper Puts Out the Fire
08/10/06 - The Owls were outshot 24-20, but strong goaltending by Jojo Babiera and 2 goals by Butch Lavin led the team to a 5-2 victory over Fire last night at the Bladium in Alameda.
The Owls built leads of 2-0 and 4-1 early on, but Fire wouldn't go away quietly. The Fire attack put some serious pressure on Babiera in the second and third periods, narrowing it to a 4-2 deficit, but the Owls keeper survived the rush with some spectacular saves. Babiera stopped a point blank shot at the end of the second period by stacking his pads, and prevented a rifling wrist shot from hitting the back of the net in the third with a beautiful sprawling glove save.
Forward Paul Cruz added a goal and an assist to the scoresheet, while offensive-minded defenseman Kevin Baldomero tallied a goal and 2 assists of his own. The all-star tandem of Mike Da Luz and Alfredo Melara only managed a goal between the two of them last night, possibly affected by the 2 week layoff of what most teams agree is a strange schedule this season. With no more bye weeks in sight, the two power forwards have plenty of time to find their stride in time for the playoffs.
NOTES: Defenseman Jeff Ng was a healthy scratch. Southern California-based Owl Carlos Lavin was involved in a multi-player brawl while playing in the Toyota Sports Center Adult Inline Hockey League in El Segundo, CA. Lavin jumped in after a teammate was attacked after the third period whistle with a brutal two-handed slash to the waist. For his efforts, Lavin is serving a 2 game suspension. Despite the mandatory 2 game rest, Lavin continues to lead the league in goals, points, and penalty minutes (see chart).
Screeching Owls Player Profile: Ron Rayo
07/27/06 - During the first of 2 bye weeks for the Owls this season, we sat down with Defenseman Ron Rayo for the first installment of the ScreechingOwls.com Player Profile. A man of action, but of few words. This... is his story.
BL: When did you start playing roller hockey?
Owls Start Off on the Right Hoot
07/20/06 - The Screeching Owls came out of the woods, or should I say woodwork, with an impressive 10-3 victory over Sweet Heat last night in their Bladium Wednesday Night Bronze B League season opener. A hat trick by Captain Mike Da Luz and 2 goals each by Paul Cruz and Butch Lavin paced the Owls scoring, while keeper Jojo Babiera stopped 23 of 26 shots to keep the Heat off the Owls.
Referee-turned-winger Alfredo Melara tallied a goal and 2 assists, while Randy Wing and Kevin Baldomero netted one goal apiece. The play of the game, though, came on an assist from Defenseman Rodrigo Dubon in the second period. Dubon, an alumni from the Owls High School League farm system, took possesion of the puck deep in his own zone, streaked down the left side, then delivered a laser beam pass to Lavin on the far post, who didn't have to do much to put it away.
This season's bizarre 9 team schedule calls for the Owls to sit out the next 2 weeks before resuming play on August 9th against Fire.
NOTES: Jeff Ng drew the first penalty of the season for the Owls in the second period, resulting in a Sweet Heat power play goal... Every Owl player cracked the stat sheet last night, as defenseman Ron Rayo joined in the scoring spree with an assist from the back line.
Whoo The Heck Are These Guys?!?
This is the Official Website of the Screeching Owls of Daly City Roller Hockey Club. What started out as just some guys and girls playing hockey at the Margate tennis courts has now flourished into the team you see here on this site. Before playing at the Bladium, the Owls would play in tournaments all over the Bay Area, trying to maintain their status as one of the top 20 teams in Northern California. But after playing too many games on rough asphalt (and wasting too much money on wheels) they brought their street game to the smooth Sport Court of the Bladium's first Bay Area location in San Francisco's China Basin. Now playing at Bladium's new location in Alameda, 2006 marks the Owls 10th year of organized league play. New City, new league, same old Owls. Stay tuned for more game scores, news, and highlights.
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Full Name: Ron Rayo
