Lambs Grove Leaf Ray Sweeps Monument Thunder to Advance to Rocky Mountain East Division Final

📅 Date: March 8, 2025
📍 Venue: Pepsi Roller Sports Arena
🔢 Final Score (Game 1): Lambs Grove Leaf Ray 5, Monument Thunder 2
🔢 Final Score (Game 2): Lambs Grove Leaf Ray 7, Monument Thunder 2

Series Recap

The Lambs Grove Leaf Ray showcased their offensive firepower and defensive dominance, completing a 2-0 series sweep over the Monument Thunder in the Rocky Mountain East Division Semi-Finals.

In Game 1, the Leaf Ray came out firing, scoring four unanswered goals in the first period. Levi Denum and Caiden Anderson led the charge, each contributing multiple points in the 5-2 victory. Goaltender Matt Lynch stood tall in net, stopping 21 of 23 shots to keep Monument at bay.

Game 2 saw Lambs Grove turn up the heat, scoring six goals in the first period alone. Drew Downey put on a clinic with four goals, and Hunter Shepherd contributed two assists in a dominant 7-2 win to secure the series.

With the series sweep, the Leaf Ray advance to the Rocky Mountain East Division Final, where they will take on the Pikes Peak Thunder for a spot in the PIHA Finals.

Game 1 Highlights (Lambs Grove 5, Monument Thunder 2)

1st Period:

✅ 09:54 – Lambs Grove Goal (1-0): Levi Denum opens the scoring with an even-strength goal.
✅ 06:38 – Lambs Grove Goal (2-0): Caiden Anderson buries a goal off a pass from Gavin Rock.
✅ 06:09 – Lambs Grove Goal (3-0): Rock finds the back of the net just 30 seconds later.
✅ 00:00 – Lambs Grove Goal (4-0): Justin Humphrey makes it four unanswered goals for the Leaf Ray.

🔥 Leaf Ray Dominate:Four goals in the first period put the Thunder in a tough spot.

2nd Period:

✅ 07:42 – Lambs Grove Goal (5-0): Humphrey strikes again, extending the lead.
✅ 07:09 – Monument Thunder Goal (5-1): Forrest Keller gets the Thunder on the board.
✅ 02:13 – Monument Thunder Goal (5-2): Brett Davis adds a late goal, but it’s too little, too late.

🔥 Goaltending Battle:
🏆 Matt Lynch (Lambs Grove): 21 saves on 23 shots
💪 Nate Screpesi (Monument): 25 saves on 30 shots

📌 Final Shots on Goal: Lambs Grove 30 – Monument Thunder 23

Game 2 Highlights (Lambs Grove 7, Monument Thunder 2)

1st Period:

✅ 10:22 – Lambs Grove Goal (1-0): Drew Downey opens the scoring for the Leaf Ray.
✅ 07:26 – Lambs Grove Goal (2-0): Downey finds the net again, assisted by Hunter Shepherd.
✅ 06:38 – Lambs Grove Goal (3-0): Levi Denum extends the lead.
✅ 06:01 – Lambs Grove Goal (4-0): Spencer Coltrain adds to the onslaught.
✅ 05:42 – Lambs Grove Goal (5-0): Hunter Shepherd gets in on the action.
✅ 01:06 – Lambs Grove Goal (6-0): Downey completes a hat trick before the first intermission.

🔥 First Period Explosion: Lambs Grove scores six goals in the opening frame, overwhelming the Thunder’s defense.

2nd Period:

✅ 07:37 – Lambs Grove Goal (7-0): Downey notches his fourth goal of the game.
✅ 11:04 – Monument Thunder Goal (7-1): Ben Ekberg gets Monument on the board.
✅ 05:33 – Monument Thunder Goal (7-2): Cameron King scores on the power play.

🔥 Leaf Ray Cruise to Victory: Despite two second-period goals from the Thunder, the Leaf Ray’s early dominance secures the sweep.

🛑 Goaltending Battle:
🏆 Blaine Barker (Lambs Grove): 13 saves on 15 shots
💪 James Risenhoover (Monument): 14 saves on 21 shots

📌 Final Shots on Goal: Lambs Grove 21 – Monument Thunder 15

Series Takeaways:

🔥 Downey’s Scoring Surge: The forward racked up five goals in two games, leading the Leaf Ray offense.
💪 Fast Starts Key for Lambs Grove: Scoring four goals in Game 1 and six in Game 2’s first period put the Thunder on their heels early.
🔄 Monument Couldn’t Keep Up: Despite a second-period push in Game 2, the Thunder never led in the series.

🏆 What’s Next?

With the series win, Lambs Grove Leaf Ray advances to the Rocky Mountain East Division Final, where they will battle the top-seeded Pikes Peak Thunder for a PIHA Finals berth.

📅 Next Game:March 9, 2025 – Rocky Mountain East Division Final

Can the Leaf Ray continue their dominant run, or will the Pikes Peak Thunder stand in their way? Stay tuned! 🔥🏒