By Nathan Max
WSL Executive Editor

ROHNERT PARK, Calif. -- Middie Ben Director scored the game-winning goal one minute into sudden-death overtime to give fifth-seeded Seattle Starz Green a dramatic, 5-4 victory over third-seeded Arizona Burn Orange in the Adrenaline High School Shootout championship game Sunday afternoon at Sonoma State University.

Director beat his defender with a quick move to his right before firing home a low, bounce-shot from about six yards to give Seattle (7-1) its third straight one-goal victory in Sunday’s knockout round.

“I had the room, and they didn’t slide,” Director said. “I just kept on running until I felt I could pull it off.”

The victory capped a remarkable turnaround for Seattle, which just one day earlier had lost its third group-stage game to the two-time defending Saskatoon Scorpions by a nine-goal margin. But Seattle quickly regrouped, winning its final five games.

On Sunday, Seattle also beat the previously unbeaten Los Angeles Mavericks, 9-8, in the quarterfinals and the previously unbeaten Scorpions, 8-7, in the semifinals. Seattle’s semifinal victory ended Saskatoon’s 24-game winning streak at the Adrenaline High School Shootout, the second division of Adrenaline tournaments.

“We just have guys who don’t get their heads all worked up,” said attackman Jack Pruitt, who had a crucial goal and an assist in the second half. “We have plenty of guys who can stay cool under pressure, and I think that really helps us pull out those close wins.”

Director finished with a game-high three points on two goals and one assist, and he had a flair for the dramatic, scoring Seattle’s final two goals to twice break a tie. Pruitt was Seattle’s only other multiple-point producer, and middies Brandon Todd and Tyler Wright each scored once.

Defensively, goalie Merrick Rutledge saved 13 shots, and he had eight saves in the second half.

For Arizona (6-1-1), middie Finn Wells had a goal and an assist and was the Burn’s only multiple-point producer. Attackman Jeff Smith, middie Charlie Yarrington and attackman Tomas Daniels also scored once.

In the cage, goalie Russell Bartle had seven saves.

The game was a defensive battle from the start. Arizona led 2-1 at halftime and 3-2 after Wells scored off a feed from middie Adam Beauchamp with 16 minutes remaining in regulation. The Burn, however, failed to capitalize on an opportunity to extend its lead when it wasted a three-minute, man-up advantage.

As the penalty time wound down, Arizona was flagged, and Seattle immediately scored on its man-up situation to tie it, 3-3. Pruitt scored from middie Matt O’Neill with 10 minutes to play.

Six minutes later, Seattle took advantage of another man-up, and took a 4-3 lead, when Director scored from point-blank range off a feed from Pruitt.

Arizona furiously pressed for the equalizer in the final two minutes, and the Burn cracked Seattle’s defense with just 20 seconds to play to force overtime. Daniels took a pass from attackman Ben Cummings and rifled a shot past Rutledge to tie it, 4-4.

There was a long scramble for possession off the opening face-off to start overtime, and Seattle finally won it after Arizona was whistled for a controversial loose-ball push. Seconds later, the Burn got away with being offside, but it didn’t matter because Director took it to the house moments later.

“We just had to settle down, think about practice and just focus on the little things,” Pruitt said. “They all came together, and we put together a good win.”

Seattle Starz Green    (7-1)   1 3 1 -- 5
Arizona Burn Orange (6-1-1) 2 2 0 -- 4
Goals: SSG: Ben Director 2, Brandon Todd, Tyler Wright, Jack Pruitt; ABO: Jeff Smith, Charlie Yarrington, Finn Wells, Tomas Daniels.
Assists: SSG: Ben Director, Jack Pruitt, Matt O'Neill; ABO: Finn Wells, Adam Beauchamp, Ben Cummings.
Saves: SSG: Merrick Rutledge 13; ABO: Russell Bartle 7.
Shots: SSG: 25; ABO: 26
Face-Offs Won: SSG: 3: ABO: 6
Man-Up Advantages: SSG: 2-3; ABO: 0-3.