AUSTIN (AP)- The Pond Hockey Club. Bookended between games one and two of the World Cup of Hockey bout between Team Canada and Team Europe was the featured matinee marquee between the dominant league-leading New Centaurs and the fast-paced, high octane Bros HC. The New Centaurs came in to last night’s game rolling on a 2-0 start after scoring 7 goals on the Leftovers. The Bros were still looking for that elusive first win after losing both of their games by the same score of 4-3.

The Bros sought out to shut down the highflying charades of New Centaurs’ phenoms Michael Morris and Dylan Pratt. The game started with both teams falling into synch quickly, and each side had multiple breakout attempts. Noah “Exit Only” Leggett, who was a lodestone for the puck all night, led the Star and Cannon offense. After several incredible shot opportunities by Scott “Reclamation” Van Pelt, Ross “Nice New Outfit” Ross Tagtow stopped a potential New Centaurs clearing pass in the neutral zone, and fed Leggett, who went short side high over New Centaur goalie Tom Ligh. Leggett was awarded the team’s much revered Gonzales Flag for his offensive efforts.

The Blacksweaters were unable to capitalize on several key opportunities during a four minute power play after former Bro Marc Henderson was called for a slash and subsequent unsportsmanlike conduct. The New Centaurs defense cleared the puck from the crease several times when Ligh lost sight of the puck, and after captain Andrew “Stacks” Feigenbaum was tripped up at center ice, Ross Bonander scored on the ensuing breakaway with a backhand that crossed the goal line with micrometers to spare.

Toward the end of the second period with the score tied after the referees waved off a New Centaurs goal, Morris sniped his only goal of the game over the shoulder of goalie Chris “Latin Roots” Chris Luscombe. Luscombe continues to improve with each game. He has proven to be a solid force between the pipes despite the Bros’ losing record.

After dominating nearly every statistical facet except the scoreboard for the first two periods, the Bros hit overdrive in the third. Led by the nearly transcendental two-way play of Steph “Steady Diet” Meyer, Chris “Long Division” Beard, and Fabian “Polish” Figi, the Bros fired on all cylinders and dumped shot after shot on Ligh. Nick “Runaway Return” Leggett and Beard shut down Pratt and Morris in the third period and combined for some incredible breakout opportunities. With the seconds waning on the game clock, Meyer hit the goal post, and the Bros lost once again by one goal.

If the Bros were Notre Dame football, this game would be considered a signature loss. The team played unbelievably well and did not take stupid penalties. Drew “Dear Justice Letter” John continues to get his legs back and played well on either wing and won a few face offs. Layne “Kyeo” Brougher played a great game last night and helped shut down multiple New Centaur breakouts and helped generate offensive opportunities. Larry “Fugazi” Powell’s albatross-esque reach and carbon fiber pitching wedge managed to poke check away countless New Centaur opportunities in the corners.

Pierre McGuire caught up with Beard shortly after the game, as he was named the number two star of the game behind Noah Leggett. McGuire asked about how the Bros have performed, and where the team goes from here after three heartbreaking losses by one goal each. Beard responded in between sighs, “Well, Pierre, this is the best oh-and-three team I’ve ever played on. These guys, this team, it’s a great team. We went out there tonight to prove to the league that we can hang with the best, and we were just a few lucky breaks away from winning. We’ve been a few lucky breaks away in each game. We’ll get our wins, we’re not worried, and this team can win championships.”

Next Wednesday, the Bros look for their first win of the season when they face their first rematch against the Leftovers at 6:45pm.

BY THE NUMBERS:
13- number of shots Ligh faced all game against the Leftovers last week.
17- number of shots Ligh faced against the Bros in the first period last night.
1- number of goals the Bros have lost by in three straight games.

GAME NOTES:
Bro Eddie Valls meets with team physicians today to begin discussing timelines for his return to ice after clavicle surgery.