Photo by Rick Ulreich, STLhighschoolsports.com

ORIGINAL ARTICLE

ST. PETERS • Fort Zumwalt East forwards Tanner Larson and Ryan Taylor crashed the Ladue party on Friday.

The duo hooked up for two late goals to lift the Lions to a 4-3 win in a non-conference MSCHA game at the Rec Plex in St. Peters.

The late salvo ruined what had been a celebration of a Ladue senior class that has earned the most wins in program history.

Taylor’s goal with 3 minutes, 33 seconds left in the third period broke a 3-3 tie and gave Zumwalt East its only lead of the game. Taylor celebrated in front of what had moments before been a boisterous Ladue student section.

“They were chirping and chanting at us,” Taylor said. “It felt good to score there in their end.”

Larsen started the play by carrying the puck deep into the Ladue zone. He then slipped a perfect backhanded pass right on the tape of Taylor’s stick.

“We’ve been playing together since we were 9 or 10 years old,” Larsen said. “I just knew he was going to be there.”

The game-winner came only 63 seconds after Larsen tied the game 3-3. His 31st goal of the season came moments after Taylor hit the post.

“It’s been the story of the last couple weeks,” Zumwalt East coach Denny Klaesner said. “We’ve kept fighting our way back into the last couple of games. We’ve been down going into the third period and we’ve found a way. It says a lot about our team.”

Larsen finished with a pair of goals and an assist for Zumwalt East (19-1-1), which has won 15 of its last 16 games. Taylor had a goal and two assists. Gage Vierzba also scored and William Jackson recorded a pair of helpers.

Lions goalie Anthony Willis made 26 saves, including all nine shots he faced in the third period.

Carson Acree scored twice and Spencer Giacin also scored for Ladue (16-3-2). Daniel Karasick made 20 saves.

Giacin gave Ladue a 1-0 lead with 29 seconds left in the first period by burying a rebound from a Harry Trelz slap shot. Giacin, a junior, was playing in his first varsity game.

Zumwalt East tied it at 1-1 with 8:19 left in the second period on a Vierzba goal. Jackson sent Vierzba in on the attack and Vierzba was able to get around a Ladue defender and tuck it past a diving and outstretched Karasick for his 31st goal of the season.

Ladue needed just 12 seconds to answer with an Acree goal to take a 2-1 lead.

Larsen tied it for Zumwalt East after his shot from the high slot found its way through a maze of players in front of Karasick.

“We just want to play a team game,” Larsen said. “As long as we’re playing a team game we’re alright. The last several games we’ve been down and we find a way to come back.”

Acree once again regained the lead for Ladue, beating Willis between the legs after a scramble in front of the net to make it 3-2 with 2:27 left in the second.

Both goalies shined throughout the contest.

Karasick gloved a Vierba backhander late in the second period, about four minutes after he scored on the same move. Seconds later, Karasick denied Larsen on a pair of high quality chances.

Willis stood tall during a Ladue push early in the second period that was capped by a drive from Acree. Willis showed off his glove late in the middle frame after Acree shook a Zumwalt East defender and skated in alone.

The Lions played shorthanded with one player suspended, one away with his club team and another ruled academically ineligible.

The academically ineligible player, Jarrod Ouzts, is actually being penalized for graduating early. Since he is ahead of schedule academically, he is taking just one class, which is less than the minimum required by the MSCHA board.

“The kid has done nothing wrong,” Klaesner said. “It is not a good rule.”

Zumwalt East is hoping for a top six seed in the Challenger Cup. The seedings are expected to be announced this weekend.

“We’re going to have our hands full next week,” Klaesner said. “We’re going to play against some of the best schools in town. Having that belief that you’re never out of a game is something we’re going to have to lean on in the next week or two.”