Story Created:
Feb 28, 2010 at 5:51 PM EST
Story Updated:
Feb 28, 2010 at 7:12 PM EST
UTICA, N.Y. (WKTV) - Just hours before the Olympic gold medal was decided in overtime, New Hartford's Alex Fukes had the game winner for the Spartans, who beat Caeznoiva 3-2 in OT of the Section III Division II Final at the Utica Memorial Auditorium.
"I picked off a pass and I went in, I live off that back hand move and once I saw that open up I was taking that the whole way," said Fukes after his big goal.
The defending state champions also got two goals in the second period from Division II East Player of the Year, Clayton Whittemore to take the early lead.
"It was definitely something we can cherish, a lot of people were saying we weren't going to win the game and we came out and we showed them, we persevered and that we could do it," said the two-time NEWSChannel 2 Athlete of the Week.
The senior gave credit to the Lakers. "A lot of teams when you get down by two goals, especially in a game like this, it means so much, you're just going to let up because you feel like you're not going to come back, but they came back and showed they weren't giving up."
Added Fukes, "I grew up playing with these kids from Caz, so it's always emotional against them, win or lose and to get the game winning goal just tops everything."
The Lakers, who beat and tied the Spartans in two previous matchups this season, came back to tie it thanks to junior defenseman Joe Nardella, who scored both of Cazenovia's goals, one in the second and another in the third.
Spartans coach John Cunningham said afterwards that it was a special game, with both schools getting a lot of support. "It's special for both teams, when you've got a big crowd like this for a big championship like this, the kids really, win or lose, they'll look back with a nice memory of the building being full like this, playing a real tough game and coming down to the last shot."
New Hartford advances to the Section III Division II Regionals on Saturday. The Spartans will host the Section V champion at the Rec Center.
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